Iga Swiatek Saves a Match Point and Comes Back to Beat Naomi Osaka at the French Open

In a thrilling showdown between two of women’s tennis biggest stars, Poland’s Iga Swiatek emerged victorious over Naomi Osaka in the second round of the French Open. Swiatek came from behind to defeat the former world number one and two-time reigning champion 7-6(1), 1-6, 7-5 over nearly three hours of rain-interrupted play at Paris’ Court Philippe Chatrier. Swiatek is now eyeing her third consecutive title at the clay-court major, extending her winning streak to 16 matches at Roland Garros. Osaka, meanwhile, demonstrated flashes of the dominant form that helped her climb to the top of the rankings and win multiple Grand Slam titles. During the match, both players exchanged big serves and stunning groundstrokes, but Swiatek saved a match point and secured the last five games to complete the win. Despite coming up short, Osaka showed glimpses of her skill and grit, which resonated with the Paris crowd. Following the conclusion of the match, Swiatek remarked, “For sure, this match was really intense. Much more intense for the second round than I ever expected. For sure, I’ll be more ready next time. Naomi played amazing tennis. … I’m happy that she’s back and she’s playing well.” Although the match featured a few moments of controversy, with some spectators yelling during play, both Swiatek and Osaka remained composed throughout the matchup. In her post-match interview, Swiatek politely asked the crowd to reserve their cheers for between rallies, saying, “Sometimes, under a lot of pressure, when you scream something during the rally or right before the return, it’s really, really hard to be focused.” Osaka stormed back from behind in the second and third sets, winning 9 of 10 games and taking a 5-2 lead in the final set. Osaka even served for the match at 5-3 in the final set, but double-faulted and Swiatek capitalized on her late chances. Despite the loss, Osaka expressed pride in her efforts, saying, “When I kind of think of it like that, I think I’m doing pretty well. And I’m also just trying not to be too hard on myself. I feel like I played her on her better surface. I’m a hard-court kid, so I would love to play her on my surface and see what happens.” The rollercoaster of a match showcased Osaka’s “quick-strike capabilities,” as she won 82 of the 139 points (59%) that lasted four or fewer strokes, and she earned a 54-37 advantage in total winners. The rain-interrupted match, which forced the postponement of 23 singles matches until the following day, only saw nine matches completed, with winners including Coco Gauff, Ons Jabeur, Sofia Kenin, Carlos Alcaraz, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Andrey Rublev. For Osaka, the match represents a return to elite tennis and a reminder of her immense talent on the court. It was also a test of her mental toughness and her ability to compete with the world’s best. Though it ended in defeat, Osaka’s performance and comeback are sure to inspire her fans and fellow tennis players