Iga Świątek Overcomes Naomi Osaka in Epic Second-Round Match at 2024 Roland Garros

In a highly anticipated second-round clash at the 2024 French Open, world No. 1 Iga Świątek faced off against former No. 1 Naomi Osaka. Świątek emerged victorious in a thrilling three-hour contest, winning 7-6 (1), 1-6, 7-5.

This match marked only the second meeting between Świątek and Osaka, with their first encounter taking place in 2019 at the Toronto tournament, where Osaka narrowly won. Osaka, currently ranked No. 134, has been finding her footing on the tour again after maternity leave, while Świątek has established herself the dominant figure in women's tennis.

Despite being the underdog, Osaka played spectacularly, pushing Świątek to the limit and coming within a point of a stunning upset. Świątek demonstrated her resilience, recovering from a set down and saving a match point to reach the third round.

The match took place on Court Philippe-Chatrier at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris. Świątek extended her Roland Garros winning streak to 16 matches and her overall winning streak to 13 matches. She has not lost at Roland Garros since the 2021 quarterfinals and has won the tournament each of the past two years, in addition to 2020.

Świątek saved a match point and grabbed the last five games to secure the victory. "For sure, this match was really intense. Much more intense for the second round than I ever expected," Świątek said. "Naomi played amazing tennis. I'm happy that she's back and she's playing well."

Osaka, who cried when she left the court after the match, showed a return to her elite tennis form. "I cried when I got off the court, but then, for me, I kind of realized I was watching Iga win this tournament last year, and I was pregnant. It was just my dream to be able to play her," Osaka said. "When I kind of think of it like that, I think I'm doing pretty well."

Świątek's victory keeps her bid for a third consecutive French Open title and fourth overall alive. Osaka's performance marks clear progress in her comeback from maternity leave, suggesting she may be a threat in the upcoming hard court season.

The match was played under a closed roof because of rain, with a riveted but not full crowd alternating their support between the two players. Świątek criticized the crowd's conduct during the match, stating that it was "really, really hard to be focused" when spectators screamed during rallies or right before returns.

Świątek has built a reputation for her durability and mental toughness, having saved three match points to defeat Aryna Sabalenka in the final of the Madrid Open three weeks prior. Osaka's first serve reached speeds of over 115 mph, and she launched herself into powerful forehands, pushing Świątek to the limit.

Świątek's victory over Osaka in this intense second-round match at Roland Garros emphasizes her dominance on clay and highlights Osaka's promising return to form. Both players demonstrated exceptional skill and resilience, making this match one of the highlights of the tournament so far.

Key Takeaways

• Iga Świątek defeats Naomi Osaka 7-6 (1), 1-6, 7-5 in a thrilling 3-hour match at the 2024 French Open.
• Świątek extends her Roland Garros winning streak to 16 matches and overall winning streak to 13 matches.
• Osaka, currently ranked No. 134, shows promising form in her comeback from maternity leave.
• Świątek saves a match point and grabs the last 5 games to secure the victory.
• The match marks only the second meeting between Świątek and Osaka, with their first encounter in 2019 at the Toronto tournament.