Naomi Osaka opens French Open 2024 campaign with nervy win over Lucia Bronzetti at Roland-Garros
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Updated 26/05/2024 at 13:29 GMT
Naomi Osaka is into round two of the French Open after a three-set win over Lucia Bronzetti at Roland-Garros on Sunday afternoon. The Japanese four-time Grand Slam winner marked her return to the Paris clay after two years away with a hard-fought win over her Italian opponent 6-1 4-6 7-5. Watch and stream the 2024 French Open live and on-demand on discovery+.
French Open highlights - Osaka battles past Bronzetti in three tough sets
Naomi Osaka booked her place in round two of the French Open courtesy of a 6-1 4-6 7-5 win over Lucia Bronzetti.
The former world No. 1 raced out of the traps in her first match in Paris since 2022 but saw her Italian opponent find a way back in the second.
Osaka rediscovered her form once again in the third set to race into a 4-0 lead, but saw that evaporate and soon had to serve to stay in the match.
The four-time Grand Slam winner then secured a crucial break before serving out the win.
The win sets up a potential showdown with Iga Swiatek who takes on Leolia Jeanjean in her first-round match on Monday.
Speaking after the match, Osaka said: “I just want to say thank you so much. It feels really nice to be back and I'm just really grateful to be here in front of everybody, so thank you.
“I think there are moments that I played pretty well, and obviously I was really nervous so I got very tight. I'm just glad I was able to come back from being, I want to say my definition of being down in the third. So yeah, pretty happy.
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'I was really nervous' - Osaka reflects on tough opening victory at Roland-Garros
“I think I played quite well on clay so hopefully I’m able to play more matches. But my last one I thought I did pretty well, so I hope to continue.”
She may have been nervous, but Osaka did not show it in a 26-minute first set. She produced flawless and dominant tennis, consistently breaching Bronzetti’s defence and getting on the board quickly with her powerful serve.
The Italian, who won her first career WTA singles title on clay in Rabat, Morocco last year took the second game of the opening set with some sharp work, forcing Osaka into an error with a shot into the tramlines.
After that, it was smooth sailing for Osaka as she took the next five games.
Bronzetti then flipped the script, taking the second set 6-4 and sending the tie the distance.
The entirety of the second felt like a waiting game. It felt like Osaka would inevitably burst her way through at some point and take the win in straight sets.
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'A sigh of relief' - Osaka edges out Bronzetti in opening test at Roland-Garros
But the Italian played it perfectly, hanging on and matching Osaka rather than trying to beat her and trusting that her opponent’s errors would open up a route to victory.
That is exactly what happened. With the games tied 4-4, a frustrated Osaka mishit a wild backhand that allowed Bronzetti to take the game. Osaka once again wobbled in the following game with a long forehand and impatient forehand into the tramlines, and Bronzetti took the second set.
The third set was equally intense. Osaka initially responded like a true champion, taking four straight games. It appeared she had squashed her frustration and regained control of the tie.
Bronzetti then produced yet another twist, winning an incredible five straight games and all of a sudden, Osaka was serving to stay in the French Open.
Osaka composed herself and took the final games to win the decisive set 7-5. A Bronzetti forehand hit the net and Osaka released a sigh of relief.
It was the sort of rollercoaster match and problem-solving that Osaka needed during her comeback and she was rewarded with her first win in Paris since 2021.
Currently ranked No. 134, she could now face world No. 1 and three-time Roland-Garros champion Swiatek in the second round. Swiatek, the top seed, faces French qualifier Jeanjean on Monday.
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You can watch every day of the 2024 French Open live and on-demand on discovery+.
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