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 best way in an absorbing encounter beneath the Court docket Philippe Chatrier roof – however paid the value for not changing her probability.
“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 towards Osaka – whose 4 main titles all got here on arduous 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 received back-to-back titles in Madrid and Rome earlier than heading to Paris.
In distinction, Osaka has by no means been probably the most snug on the floor and described herself final month as nonetheless being a “child giraffe” on it.
Nevertheless Osaka, who grew up enjoying on arduous 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 the very best.
“I used to be watching Iga win this match final 12 months and I used to be pregnant. It was simply my dream to have the ability to play her,” stated Osaka.
“After I form of consider it like that, I feel I am doing fairly nicely. I am additionally simply making an attempt to not be too arduous on myself.
“I really feel like I performed her on her higher floor. I am a hard-court child, so I’d 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 online, nonetheless retained a commanding place as she closed in on a memorable victory.
However she grew to become tight when serving out for the match at 5-3, lacking three quick balls on the best way to handing again the break with a protracted 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 develop 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).