Defending champion Iga Swiatek staged a outstanding comeback from match level down towards Naomi Osaka to advance to the French Open third spherical on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Carlos Alcaraz additionally confronted a tricky problem however managed to safe victory amid persistent rain that disrupted the match schedule.
In an exciting second-round encounter, Swiatek outlasted four-time Grand Slam winner Osaka with a rating of 7-6 (7-1), 1-6, 7-5. Her victory brightened a depressing day that noticed 23 singles matches postponed till Thursday.
The world No. 1 rallied within the remaining moments of the match, profitable the final 5 video games to maintain her quest for a 3rd consecutive Roland Garros title alive. The final girl to attain this feat was Justine Henin from 2005 to 2007.
Swiatek goals to turn into solely the fourth girl within the Open period to win 4 Roland Garros titles and the second, after Serena Williams, to finish the clay-court treble of Madrid, Rome and the French Open in the identical season.
“This match was really intense, much more intense for the second round than I ever expected,” mentioned Swiatek, who fought off a break level on Osaka’s serve whereas trailing 5-3 within the deciding set.
“Naomi played amazing tennis, and maybe she is going to be a clay-court specialist in a while!”
Osaka, showing at solely a second Grand Slam since giving beginning to her daughter final July, was on the cusp of her greatest win since returning to tennis in the beginning of the 12 months however took a philosophical view of an agonizing defeat.
“I cried when I got off the court, but then, you know, for me, I kind of realize I was watching Iga win this tournament last year, and I was pregnant. It was just my dream to be able to play her,” mentioned Osaka, now ranked 134.
Entering the showdown with a 29-2 report in Paris, Swiatek landed the preliminary blow within the first assembly on clay between previous and current world No. 1s, breaking Osaka to like for a 2-1 lead.
Osaka, who gained a match at a Grand Slam occasion for the primary time for the reason that 2022 Australian Open together with her opening victory over Lucia Bronzetti, clawed again to 4-4 as Swiatek miscued a forehand following a prolonged rally.
The Japanese star had Swiatek in hassle down set level on the Pole’s serve within the tenth recreation, however the prime seed knuckled down and compelled a tie-break, which she dominated to grab the opening set after 69 minutes.
Osaka produced a stirring response and broke Swiatek to start the second set earlier than she powered right into a 4-0 lead, dropping only one level on serve on her method to leveling up the match.
Three break factors eluded Swiatek to begin the deciding set, and Osaka’s clear hitting rapidly had her opponent once more on the again foot.
Osaka blasted a backhand winner to interrupt for a 2-0 benefit earlier than demonstrating her resolve as soon as extra to save lots of one other 5 break factors.
Swiatek fended off a break alternative to remain in contact at 2-4, however she regarded doomed when Osaka introduced up match level three video games later.
A terrific return stored her alive, and a free backhand from Osaka handed Swiatek a break to get again to 4-5.
After a tricky maintain, Swiatek broke once more to maneuver 6-5 in entrance earlier than holding her nerve to wrap up her victory after almost three hours.
Swiatek will subsequent play Forty second-ranked Czech Marie Bouzkova or Jana Fett, the world No. 135 from Croatia.
Their match was amongst these to fall foul of the climate as play on all however the primary two courts was referred to as off for the day round 1500 GMT, following a five-hour delay.
US Open champion and third seed Coco Gauff defeated Slovenia’s Tamara Zidansek 6-3, 6-4, whereas eighth seed Ons Jabeur overcame Colombia’s Camila Osorio in three units.
Alcaraz, Sinner by
Alcaraz shook off a third-set blip towards world No. 176 Jesper de Jong earlier than the Spaniard got here by 6-3, 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 below the roof on Court Philippe Chatrier.
Wimbledon champion Alcaraz arrived in Paris with doubts over his health after a proper forearm harm sidelined him for nearly a month.
Third seed Alcaraz appeared to be cruising towards De Jong, a Dutch qualifier collaborating in solely his second Grand Slam primary draw, however he was in the end made to work tougher than anticipated.
“Every player can cause you trouble,” mentioned Alcaraz.
“You have to be focused in every round, have to play at your best, it doesn’t matter what the ranking is.”
Second seed Jannik Sinner swept apart dwelling favourite Richard Gasquet 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 within the evening session match.
Former French Open finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas reached the final 32 for the sixth straight 12 months with a 6-3, 6-2, 6-7 (2-7), 6-4 win over Germany’s Daniel Altmaier.
Sixth seed Andrey Rublev eased apart Pedro Martinez in straight units, however three-time main champion Stan Wawrinka bowed out to Russia’s Pavel Kotov in 4 units.
Source: www.dailysabah.com