PARIS, FRANCE – MAY 29: Iga Swiatek of Poland plays a forehand against Naomi Osaka of Japan in the … [+]
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While the Rafael Nadal-Alexander Zverev match was the biggest popcorn match of the early rounds of the French Open on the men’s side, the women’s draw featured its own must-see event on Thursday.
World No. 1 Iga Swiatek took a 15-match winning streak at Roland Garros and a 13-match winning streak overall into her second-round matchup with four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka, a 26-year-old mom now ranked No. 134 in the world.
In the end, Swiatek, the two-time defending champion, fought off a match point to defeat Osaka, 7-6-7(1), 1-6, 7-5, for her 16th straight win at the French Open. The match was played under the roof in Court Philippe-Chatrier after play on the outside courts was suspended due to rain.
“My mind was flying around sometimes and when I was really under this biggest pressure, I was able to focus more and play better and really not think about what the score is or that I’m really close to losing, so I just kept going forward and I hope that my game is going to get better because of that,” Swiatek said on court.
Osaka was consistently banging in serves around 117- and 119-mph, with at least one at 120. She knocked out eight aces compared to zero for Swiatek.
Swiatek made 37 winners against 32 unforced errors, while Osaka had 54 winners against 38 unforced errors.
The Pole improved to 17-0 in the first three rounds at the French Open, the tournament she won in 2020, ‘22 and 23.
Swiatek is also coming off winning the Italian Open, where she didn’t drop a set and allowed a combined 12 games to Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka in the semis and finals.
PARIS, FRANCE – MAY 29: Naomi Osaka of Japan reacts against Iga Swiatek of Poland in the Women’s … [+]
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In the third set, Osaka faced break points in the opening game but came back to take a 1-0 lead.
Osaka then broke for a 2-0 lead with a sharply angled crosscourt backhand winner.
She fought off a break point to seize a 3-0 lead in the third set.
Osaka ripped a running crosscourt forehand winner to go ahead 4-1.
Osaka confidently held serve at love for a 5-2 lead.
With Osaka serving for the match at 5-3, Swiatek saved a match point with an angled backhand return winner.
On break point, Osaka sailed a backhand approach long and it was 5-4.
And serving at 5-all, Osaka double-faulted on break point to hand Swiatek a 6-5 lead.
Serving for the match at 6-5, Swiatek set up match point with a vicious crosscourt backhand winner and then won it when Osaka sailed backhand wide.