Osaka sets up likely clash with Swiatek at French Open

Naomi Osaka reached the French Open second round for the first time in three years with a battling victory over Italy’s Lucia Bronzetti, setting up a likely meeting with world No 1 Iga Swiatek.

Osaka, who took a 16-month hiatus in September 2022 to start a family, was inconsistent in the first match of the tournament but secured a 6-1, 4-6, 7-5 win.

She will next face Swiatek if the Pole sees off Leolia Jeanjean as expected today.

The pair have only played each other twice before, with their last meeting a Swiatek victory in the 2022 Miami Open final.

Yesterday was Osaka’s first match win at a Grand Slam event since the 2022 Australian Open.

She has never reached the second week at Roland Garros, with all of her major titles coming on the hard courts.

Currently ranked 134 in the world, she wrapped up the first set after just 26 minutes with an ace.

The 26-year-old did not face a break point until she dropped serve in the 10th game of the second set as the match went into a decider.

Osaka missed a break point for a 5-0 lead in the third set, and Bronzetti powered back, recovering the two breaks and moving 5-4 ahead. But Osaka broke again in the 11th game before taking her first match point when Bronzetti netted a forehand.

China’s Wang Yafan joined Osaka in the next round after beating Russian Maria Timofeeva 6-3, 6-3.

In men’s singles, China’s Zhang Zhizhen advanced with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 victory over Australia’s Aleksandar Vukic.