PARIS -- For nearly three hours, nothing separated two four-time Grand Slam singles champions under the roof on Court Philippe Chatrier. Iga Swiatek and Naomi Osaka, a former World No.1, were even at 5-all in the third set.
Swiatek, who earlier saved a match point, ultimately prevailed 7-6 (1), 1-6, 7-5 on Wednesday night.
Given that Osaka has always had a tenuous relationship with clay -- and the fact Swiatek is a three-time Roland Garros champion and the best active player on clay -- this was something few saw coming.
“It’s hard to have any logical thoughts,” Swiatek told reporters, “because for sure it was really intense and on a really high level. I was in huge trouble in the third set. I honestly didn’t believe that I could win -- that would be pretty naïve.
“But I managed somehow to win this match. I’m glad I didn’t give up.”
Only five months into her comeback following the birth of daughter Skai, Osaka pushed Swiatek to the absolute limit.
In a tense and thrilling match that had the look and feel of a championship final, Osaka was -- as hard as it was to believe -- suddenly vintage Osaka. Ranked No.134 in the world, she played like it was 2019.
Osaka said she cried when she got off the court, but 30 minutes later was decidedly upbeat and quite thoughtful in her responses to the media.
“Probably the most fun match that I have played [since her comeback] so far,” Osaka said. “It just felt really incredible, the atmosphere, and how fun I guess everyone in the crowd was having, too. It was definitely very memorable 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. When I kind of think of it like that, I think I’m doing pretty well.”
This was Swiatek’s 16th consecutive match-win at Roland Garros, the most since Justine Henin won 24 straight between 2005-10. This was also Swiatek’s 14th straight win this year.
Osaka actually won more points, had 17 more winners and more service breaks -- but Swiatek was better when it mattered. Match time: 2 hours, 57 minutes.
“That was much more intense for a second-round match than I expected,” Swiatek said in her on-court interview. “She played really, really great tennis. For sure, I’m happy that she’s back.”
Coming in, Swiatek was understandably deferential to Osaka.
“Nowadays in women's draw you can play Grand Slam champions early in the tournament,” Swiatek said. “It is pretty tricky because you know these players are really experienced. They also achieved many great things. So they have bigger kind of belief.”
She wasn’t kidding.
After splitting the first two sets, Osaka faced three break points in her opening service game -- and saved them all. She then broke Swiatek with a backhand crosscourt winner, which induced a primal scream. In Osaka’s second service game, she saved five more break points, before Swiatek’s forehand return found the net.
Now Osaka led 3-0 and served for the match at 5-3.
But at 30-all, she smashed a forehand into the net followed by a backhand that flew long. On Swiatek’s second break point, Osaka hit what looked like a makeable backhand just long.
And so the match was back on serve.
In the end, Osaka just couldn't close the deal. There were some tired-looking forehands and, with Osaka serving at 5-all, a double fault that gave Swiatek a pivotal 6-5 advantage.
Leading 30-15, Swiatek hit a screaming backhand crosscourt winner to go up 40-15. One more errant backhand from Osaka gave her the match.
“I’m also just trying not to be too hard on myself,” Osaka said. “I feel like I played her on her better surface. I’m a hard-court kid, so I would love to play her on my surface and see what happens.
“I also said in Australia that I’m kind of setting myself up for September anyway.”
That would be the US Open where she’s a two-time champion.
“Honestly, I just think about the journey that she had,” Swiatek said. “She’s a mother, and I guess, I have never been in that situation. It must be hard to combine these two things and come back after maternity leave.
“She played amazing today. I have big respect for her coming back. Her shots were really clean and really heavy. For sure, I think she improved her game. I’m happy that she’s back – but maybe we can play not three sets next time.”
Swiatek is tracking like Henin, which is a (very) good thing. Henin, who may have had the most breathtaking one-handed backhand in women’s tennis history, won three straight titles here from 2005-07 and four out of five.
With five more victories here, Swiatek can equal that feat. The only other player in the Open Era to three-peat was Monica Seles, in 1990-92, twice beating Steffi Graf in the final.
It's been several hours now and I'm still having trouble formulating the right words to describe what I have seen.
I had hoped that this match would be competitive and live up to it's billing, and saying that it did would be the understatement of the year.
It is fair to say that no one expected Naomi Osaka to play as well as she did on her least favourite surface.
She has been making real strides on it this season for the fist time in her career, but what she showed today was leaps and bounds beyond just getting comfortable on the red stuff.
It was almost a masterclass, it's no wonder Iga said maybe Naomi will become a clay specialist soon too in her post match interview.
With the performance she give today it's hard to argue otherwise. She was at times out hitting Iga.
Hitting incredibly deep shots that would land right on the base line pushing Iga back (something only Rybakina, Sabelenka or Ostapenko have managed to do on clay).
For someone who's not a natural clay courter or slider on the surface, Naomi was moving extraordinarily well.
One of my fave things about Naomi is that she has always been a clean ball striker. Her shots are so fluid and hit with so much power yet they always land in court. Probably one of the things I missed most about her game.
And she had that today in abundance.
So much so that she almost knocked out the world number 1 from her favourite tournament on her most dominant surface in the 2nd round.
I still have no idea how Iga came back not only from match point down but 5/2 down in the final set.
I thought that nothing would rival the final Iga played with Sabalenka in Madrid earlier this month (where she saved 3 match points) but we definitely have a new contender for match of the year.
The final set was a combination of Osaka getting nervous and tight having not been in this situation for some time, and Iga refusing to budge and taking her opportunities when it counted the most.
I think playing under the roof also contributed to Osaka striking the ball so well, a closed roof essentially made it an indoor tournament and the conditions really suited Naomi's game.
Iga did play under the roof in her previous match so didn't have to adjust much. Naomi was just unplayable at times saving a lot of break points with great serving.
At 5/3 match point Osaka I was honestly making peace with the fact that Iga would suffer her earliest lost in a Grand Slam since before she was number one and before we even knew her name.
And I thought if she has to lose at least she's losing to not only a great player who's simply playing lights out tennis, but a great person and a friend.
Someone thanks to whom we are lucky enough to have Iga in this sport.
Naomi convinced Iga to stick it out and keep going when she was considering quitting the sport and continuing with higher education instead.
So as a fan of not just Iga but this sport in general I will always be eternally grateful to Naomi for that.
This goes without saying, but Naomi Osaka 4 time Grand Slam champion is definitely back. With this level no one will want to face her on the American hardcourts later this season.
Although Naomi herself is very much looking forward to facing off against Iga on her favourite surface next.
And as much stress as I know it would undoubtedly cause me, I very much want to see that.
Take a bow Naomi Osaka thank you for creating a match no tennis fan will soon forget.
The only thing that would have made this match even better would have been a full center court.
Which unfortunately was sadly lacking.
As for Iga, thank you for being a fighter till the very end.
For continuing to give your fans thrilling matches that invoke a kaleidoscope of emotions.
For showcasing women's tennis in the best possible way.
And sharing your incredible talent, athleticism, and exceptional mental resilience.
The saying champions find a way has never rang more true then today.
We live to play another day.
Jazda!
More Incredible stats:
All Iga's tour MP save wins: 1 v. Osaka | RG 24 7-6 1-6 3-5 40-A* > 7-6 1-6 7-5 3 v. Sabalenka | Madrid 24 7-5 4-6 5-6 *30-40 *40-A, *6-7 > 7-5 4-6 7-622,363 - At 22 years and 363 days, Iga Swiatek is the third youngest women's player after Monica Seles and Steffi Graf to win 16 consecutive matches at the French Open during the Open Era. Clan.
For the first time in her career, Iga Świątek wins a match where faced match points on return, and/or where her rival served for the match.
Iga Swiatek is 68-1 in completed clay court WTA main draw matches after winning the opening set - she only lost to Karolina Muchova in Prague 2019 (4-6 6-1 6-4). Possibility.
No comments:
Post a Comment