Defending champion Iga Swiatek saved a match point to secure a thrilling victory over Naomi Osaka in the second round of the French Open, avoiding her earliest exit from the tournament.
The 22-year-old Pole, aiming for her third consecutive title, triumphed 7-6 (7-1), 1-6, 7-5 in a tense match. Osaka, a former world number one, returned to tennis only four months ago after the birth of her daughter Shai and has historically struggled on clay courts.
Despite her clay court challenges, the 26-year-old Japanese player pushed Swiatek to the limit under the Court Philippe Chatrier roof but couldn’t capitalize on her match point opportunity.
“That was intense, more intense than I expected for a second-round match,” Swiatek commented. “We played some amazing tennis.”
Swiatek has become the WTA Tour’s most dominant player since Serena Williams, especially on clay. Her victory over Osaka means she has lost only two of her 32 matches at Roland Garros. She has been almost unbeatable on clay this season, having won titles in Madrid and Rome.
Iga Swiatek with the Italian Open trophy
In contrast, Osaka has often found clay challenging. She recently likened herself to a “baby giraffe” on the surface. Nonetheless, Osaka has been working to adapt her game and showcased her hard-hitting style, which troubled Swiatek throughout the match.
“I was watching Iga win this tournament last year while I was pregnant. It was my dream to play against her,” Osaka shared. “Considering that, I think I’m doing pretty well. I’m trying not to be too hard on myself. I played her on her best surface. I’m a hard-court player, so I’d love to face her on my preferred surface.”
Osaka’s power and aggressive returns posed significant challenges for Swiatek. She came close to a 5-1 lead in the final set but missed a crucial backhand. Leading 5-3, Osaka struggled to close out the match, ultimately allowing Swiatek to break back.
A double fault on break point gave Swiatek the opportunity to serve for the match, which she seized, showcasing her composure under pressure. Swiatek’s relief was evident as she avoided her earliest exit from the French Open.
Swiatek remains on track to join Monica Seles (1990-92) and Justine Henin (2005-07) as the only women to win three consecutive French Open titles in the Open era.
