Roland-Garros: after coming close to disaster by saving a match point, world No.1 Iga Swiatek qualified for the third round

Iga Swiatek was very hot. EPA – CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON

World No.1 and double title holder Iga Swiatek ended up winning against the Japanese Naomi Osaka (134th) during the second round of Roland-Garros 7-6 [1], 1-6, 7- 5, Wednesday May 29, after saving a match point.

Leading 5-4 in the last set, Swiatek managed to save a match point before finally reversing the scenario of the match and winning in almost three hours.

Triple winner of the Paris tournament in 2020, 2022 and 2023, Swiatek is the big favorite in her own succession, and she has come a long way to finally continue her journey while Osaka, former N .1 world returned at the start of 2024 from a white season after maternity leave, seemed on the verge of breaking her.

While she had won the first set in the decisive game, during which Osaka had already shown the beginnings of a possible exploit, Swiatek then collapsed for a time in the face of the power imposed by the four-time Grand Slam winner.

#ROLANDGARROS | LA N°1 MONDIALE IMPRESSIONNE !

Iga Świątek, double tenante du titre, élimine finalement Naomi Osaka au terme d’un match complètement fou (7-6, 1-6, 7-5) 🔥

▶️ Les matchs en direct : https://t.co/tkn8tPHaiK pic.twitter.com/5r8jtw9IGU

— francetvsport (@francetvsport) May 29, 2024

Sometimes outdated, sometimes brilliant

The Pole, who has been at the top of the WTA rankings since April 2022, sometimes seemed totally overwhelmed by the shots of her opponent, who largely dominated the second set.

In front of the Philippe-Chatrier court audience, delighted, but with overflowing enthusiasm and often called to order for her indiscipline during the match, the Japanese then continued to impose his pace, leading 5-2 in the last set.

Also read: VIDEO. "You can shout between exchanges, but not during exchanges please" : when Swiatek asks the Roland-Garros public to behave

But several unforced errors (22 in the last set) and a few flashes from the world No.1 gave the latter hope. After a match point saved, and an exceptional mano a mano, it was ultimately the best player on the circuit who had the last word.