Defending champion Iga Swiatek saved a match level earlier than beating Naomi Osaka to keep away from the earliest French Open exit of her profession in a second-round thriller in Paris.
The 22-year-old Pole, who’s bidding for a 3rd successive title, fought again to win 7-6 (7-1) 1-6 7-5.
Former world primary Osaka solely returned to the game 4 months in the past after having daughter Shai and has beforehand struggled on clay.
Nevertheless, the 26-year-old from Japan pushed prime seed Swiatek all the way in which in an absorbing encounter beneath the Court docket Philippe Chatrier roof – however paid the worth for not changing her likelihood.
“That was intense, extra intense than I anticipated for a second-round match,” stated Swiatek.
“We performed some wonderful tennis.”
Swiatek has developed into the WTA Tour’s most dominant participant since Serena Williams and her file on clay is especially formidable.
Escaping defeat in opposition to Osaka – whose 4 main titles all got here on onerous courts – means Swiatek has misplaced simply two of her 32 matches at Roland Garros.
She has solely misplaced as soon as on clay this season, having gained back-to-back titles in Madrid and Rome earlier than heading to Paris.
In distinction, Osaka has by no means been probably the most comfy on the floor and described herself final month as nonetheless being a “child giraffe” on it.
Nevertheless Osaka, who grew up taking part in on onerous courts in New York and Florida, has been wholeheartedly embracing the problem of adapting her sport to the clay.
This was an instance of how the world quantity 134 nonetheless possesses a hard-hitting sport which may check one of the best.
“I used to be watching Iga win this event final 12 months and I used to be pregnant. It was simply my dream to have the ability to play her,” stated Osaka.
“Once I type of consider it like that, I believe I am doing fairly effectively. I am additionally simply attempting to not be too onerous on myself.
“I really feel like I performed her on her higher floor. I am a hard-court child, so I might like to play her on my floor and see what occurs.”
Osaka bamboozled Swiatek along with her sheer energy and fearless returning, cracking winners off each wings with ease.
She was some extent away from a 5-1 lead within the deciding set and, regardless of being unable to take that by placing a backhand into the web, nonetheless retained a commanding place as she closed in on a memorable victory.
However she turned tight when serving out for the match at 5-3, lacking three brief balls on the way in which to handing again the break with an extended backhand.
The edginess continued when a double fault on break level allowed Swiatek the chance to serve out victory.
Swiatek executed her pictures when it mattered and was visibly relieved to keep away from her first exit earlier than the fourth spherical.
It preserves her bid to change into solely the third lady to win three successive French Open titles within the Open period after Monica Seles (1990-92) and Justine Henin (2005-07).
