Resurgent Swiatek beats Osaka to reach French Open third round
Defending champion Iga Swiatek avoided her earliest French Open exit by saving a match point before beating Naomi Osaka in a second-round thriller in Paris. The 22-year-old Pole, who is bidding for a third successive title, fought back to win 7-6 (7-1) 1-6 7-5. Former world number one Osaka only returned to the sport four […]
resurgent swiatek beats osaka
Defending champion Iga Swiatek avoided her earliest French Open exit by saving a match point before beating Naomi Osaka in a second-round thriller in Paris.
The 22-year-old Pole, who is bidding for a third successive title, fought back to win 7-6 (7-1) 1-6 7-5.
Former world number one Osaka only returned to the sport four months ago after having daughter Shai and previously struggled on clay.
However, the 26-year-old from Japan pushed Swiatek all the way in an absorbing encounter under the Court Philippe Chatrier roof – but paid the price for not converting her chance.
Meanwhile, Eighth seed Ons Jabeur survived a scare against Colombian Camila Osorio to reach the third round.
The 29-year-old Tunisian, a quarter-finalist last year, struggled for consistency in a match which saw 12 breaks of serve.
But, after Osorio had twice broken back in the deciding set, Jabeur held her nerve to serve out a 6-3 1-6 6-3 victory.
Jabeur, seeking her maiden Grand Slam title, will meet Canadian 31st seed Leylah Fernandez or China’s Wang Xiyu next.
The three-time Grand Slam runner-up made the perfect start on Court Suzanne Lenglen, establishing a 3-0 lead with an early break.
Jabeur was able to refocus and after breaking Osorio again in the eighth game she served out the win at the first opportunity, the relief evident in her celebrations after coming through a testing encounter.