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By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Sunday, Could 26, 2024
Proud mother Naomi Osaka is celebrating daughter Shai’s first child steps.
Osaka is happy about an impending main leap: the prospect of taking part in world No.1 Iga Swiatek within the Roland Garros second spherical.
Roland Garros Men’s Draw: Top 5 Takeaways
World No. 134 Osaka tamed spiking nerve and a biting breeze, recovering from shedding 5 video games in a row, to beat Lucia Bronzetti 6-1, 4-6, 7-5 in immediately’s French Open opener and earn her first main match win for the reason that 2022 Australian Open.
It’s Osaka’s first main match win since changing into a mother—she gave start to child Shai on July seventh—
and units up a possible blockbuster conflict of four-time Grand Slam champions within the second spherical.
If reigning champion Swiatek defeats 148th-ranked French qualifier Leolia Jeanjean in her opener, then we’ll see the present and former world No. 1 champions sq. off in spherical immediately.
Osaka mentioned it is going to be “a really huge honor and problem” to face clay queen Swiatek on her greatest floor.
“I am truthfully actually excited,” Osaka mentioned when requested in regards to the prospect of taking part in Swiatek. “I watched her quite a bit after I was pregnant. “And truthfully, I believe it is an honor to play her within the French Open, as a result of she’s received greater than as soon as right here, for certain. I’ll, it is like a really huge honor and problem for me.”
The highest-seeded Swiatek carries an imposing 77-10 profession clay-court report into her Roland Garros title protection, together with an excellent 14-1 clay mark this season capturing back-to-back WTA 1000 championships in Madrid and Rome.
If the champions showdown comes off as anticipated, it is going to be their third profession assembly.
Of their final conflict, Swiatek swept Osaka 6-4, 6-0 within the 2022 Miami Open ultimate.
Although Osaka has by no means contested a clay-court ultimate, she mentioned she will not be in awe of Swiatek’s excellent clay credentials in the event that they face off.
“Um, in a bizarre manner, I undoubtedly do really feel prefer it’s a take a look at to see the place I am at, however I would not say I’ve low expectations of myself,” Osaka mentioned of a Swiatek showdown. “I am an individual that form of thinks that I can win each match that I play. That is form of gotten me this far.”
The 26-year-old Osaka is a scholar of the game who as soon as dissuaded Swiatek from pursuing larger schooling.
After the second-seeded Swiatek streaked by seven straight video games crushing Osaka 6-4, 6-0 within the 2022 Miami Open ultimate, the four-time main champion recalled breaking bread with a teenage Swiatek and inspiring her to proceed competing on the professional tour somewhat than go to varsity.
“A pair years in the past, I had a dinner together with her in Australia, and he or she was telling me like she may go to varsity. I used to be telling her, Do not try this,” Osaka informed the media in Miami. “It has been actually cool to observe her develop. For me, I believe probably the most spectacular factor is like having the ability to string collectively these two wins in a row.
“Not even back-to-back-to-back wins however going from Indian Wells and like even attending to the quarters of this event to me can be spectacular, as a result of I personally know, like, how tiring it was. I needed to play Serena proper after I received Indian Wells, after which I used to be fully useless after that. However she’s like, it appears she retains going. In order that’s actually wonderful to see. I believe that she’s like actually wonderful for the game.”
Although Swiatek is a robust favourite in the event that they meet within the second spherical, it could possibly be particular for the game and main step ahead for Osaka somewhat greater than eight months after giving start.
Photograph credit score: Clive Brunskill/Getty
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