Naomi Osaka swept to her first victory on the French Open in three years on Could 26, establishing a possible showdown with world primary Iga Swiatek, as Roland Garros ready to bid a doable farewell to Rafael Nadal.
Osaka, a four-time main winner who has but to get previous the third spherical in Paris, wanted three units to defeat Italy’s Forty eighth-ranked Lucia Bronzetti on the showpiece Courtroom Philippe Chatrier, 6-1, 4-6, 7-5.
The 26-year-old fired 31 winners, together with six aces, and 45 unforced errors in a match the place she gave up a 4-0 lead within the decider earlier than discovering herself 5-4 down.
Nonetheless, she rallied strongly to register her first win at a Grand Slam for the reason that 2022 Australian Open.
“It feels very nice to be again and I’m simply actually grateful to be right here in entrance of all people,” mentioned Osaka.
“I feel there have been moments after I performed rather well.”
The Japanese star, a former world primary now at 134 within the rankings, has endured a bittersweet relationship with the French capital.
In 2021, she was fined for opting out of obligatory media commitments earlier than withdrawing from the match to be able to defend her psychological well being.
A yr later, she fell within the first spherical earlier than leaving the game in September 2022 for 16 months to begin a household.
Prime seed Swiatek, chasing a fourth French Open, will face Osaka if the Pole will get previous qualifier Leolia Jeanjean on Monday.
Later Sunday, Carlos Alcaraz, the reigning Wimbledon champion, begins his marketing campaign towards J.J. Wolf of the USA, a fortunate loser from qualifying.
Andy Murray and his fellow three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka will shut proceedings within the evening session.
World quantity three Alcaraz made the semi-finals final yr the place he was defeated by Novak Djokovic, revealing later that the prospect of going through the world primary had brought about a lot rigidity that his physique cramped up through the match.
Wolf, ranked at 107, has gained only one match on the tour in 2024. His solely different primary draw look on the French Open led to a first-round exit final yr.
Wawrinka, the 39-year-old 2015 champion, and 2016 runner-up Murray meet for the twenty third time, a rivalry which has included two semi-final clashes in Paris.
Murray is enjoying his last season on tour however whether or not or not 14-time champion Nadal joins him in retirement later this yr stays to be seen.
‘Uncomfortable place’
In the meantime, Nadal, who will likely be 38 on June 3, revealed Saturday that he hasn’t dedicated himself to retiring and wished to “100% hold the door open”.
He missed the match in 2023 with harm.
His 2024 look could also be transient after he was drawn to face fourth-ranked Alexander Zverev on Monday.
“It’s an enormous, massive probability that that is going to be my final Roland Garros, but when I’ve to inform you it’s 100% my final Roland Garros, sorry, however I can’t. I can not predict what’s occurring,” Nadal mentioned.
The Spanish legend has racked up 112 wins in 115 matches on the match since his title-winning 2005 debut when he was simply 19.
He has 22 Grand Slam titles — second solely to Djokovic’s 24 on the all-time males’s checklist — however his profession has been stricken by accidents.
Nadal has performed simply 4 tournaments since January final yr after struggling a hip harm after which a muscle tear.
In consequence, his rating has slumped to 275 on the earth and he comes into the French Open unseeded.
“I’ve been going by a protracted technique of restoration with a really tough harm, virtually two years of struggling, however I really feel higher now,” he added.
“I’ve fewer limitations than three, 4 weeks in the past, certainly.”
French Open organisers have been able to stage a tribute ceremony for Nadal earlier than he revealed that he may play on.
“We have been able to press the button on it,” mentioned match director Amelie Mauresmo.
“But it surely’s Rafa who manages his timing, we comply with what he desires. We wouldn’t need to put him in an uncomfortable place.”
In early motion on Sunday, two-time quarter-finalist Andrey Rublev, the sixth seed, defeated Japan’s Taro Daniel in 4 units.
French primary Ugo Humbert, the seventeenth seed, crashed out 6-2, 6-7 (3/7), 6-3, 7-5 to Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego.
