 "French Open 2024: Iga Swiatek, Naomi Osaka feel contrast emotions after classic")
Iga Swiatek and Naomi Osaka had different emotions after their second round classic at the French Open on a rain-hit Wednesday. Swiatek, the two-time defending champion, fended off a match point and came from 2-5 down in the deciding set to progress.
The World No. 1 fought back to outlast Osaka 7-6 (7/1), 1-6, 7-5 and keep her bid for a third successive Roland Garros title alive.
Osaka, meanwhile, admitted she was reduced to tears in the immediate aftermath of the match on Court Philippe Chatrier.
Swiatek said she needed to have been “pretty naive” to think she could beat four-time Grand Slam champion Osaka after falling match point down.
“I honestly didn’t believe I could win, because I would be pretty naive,” said Swiatek, who now holds a 30-2 record on her five trips to Paris.
“But it didn’t change the fact that I just tried to do work to play better. I actually managed to be more focused at the end of the match, which went pretty badly.
“In first and second set I felt like I’m not completely in the zone. When I was under the biggest pressure I was able actually to switch that and maybe that made the difference.”
Swiatek won this match.#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/X7kEaKuJWT
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 29, 2024
Swiatek is attempting to become only the fourth woman in the Open Era to win four Roland Garros titles and just the second – after Serena Williams – to complete the clay-court treble of Madrid, Rome and French Opens in the same year.
Osaka, appearing at only her second major since giving birth last July, was on the cusp of her biggest win since returning to tennis at the start of the year.
“This match was really intense, much more intense for the second round than I ever expected,” said Swiatek, who faces Jana Fett or Marie Bouzkova in the last-32.
“Naomi played amazing tennis and maybe she is going to be a clay-court specialist in a while!”
Crowd frustration
Never count her out 😮💨#RolandGarros @iga_swiatek pic.twitter.com/kIyb4WRQKv
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 29, 2024
With Swiatek battling to stay alive as Osaka threatened a huge upset, a shout from the crowd mid-point left her visibly frustrated.
“Sometimes under a lot of pressure, when you scream something during the rally, it is very distracting and hard to focus,” Swiatek said while addressing fans on Court Philippe Chatrier after the match.
“This is serious for us and sometimes it is hard to accept. The stakes are big and we are playing for a lot of money. If you could support us before the rallies but not during.
“I love you guys and I always love playing here so let’s continue that.”
Swiatek touched on the incident in her post-match press conference as the topic of French Open spectators’ behaviour resurfaced in the wake of a claim by David Goffin that a fan spat chewing gum at him as he defeated French player Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard on Tuesday.
“It happened more times, especially before the returns, and that’s why I wanted to speak out about it, because if it would happen one time, I would just let it go,” Swiatek said of fans crying out during play.
“I know the French crowd is enthusiastic. Yeah, but for now in tennis we have these kind of rules that there should be, like, more silence in the audience, and I just wanted to point out that it’s not easy for us.”
The Pole remains hopeful her gentle reprimand would not turn the fans against her.
“But I know that French crowds can be kind of harsh, so I don’t want to be under the radar right now,” said a smiling Swiatek.
“So, yeah, I don’t know if that was a good decision or not.”
Osaka in tears but admits: ‘I’ve felt worse’
Osaka said she wept after the match but insisted: “I’ve felt worse”.
“It was the most fun match I have ever played, the atmosphere was incredible, it was very memorable for me,” said the 26-year-old.
“I’ve felt worse, that’s for sure.”
Despite the defeat, Osaka said she can only take positives from the match which went on for close to three hours and where she unleashed 54 winners.
“I cried when I came off court but then I thought of how last year I was watching Iga win the French Open while I was pregnant,” said Osaka after a match in which she won more points, had 17 more winners and more service breaks – five to three.
“My dream then was to come and play against her, so when I think of that I try not to be too hard on myself.
“I’m just here for the vibes. I’m a hard court kid; I’d like to play her on a hard court.”
Iga Swiatek and Naomi Osaka was an electric match up ⚡️
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 29, 2024
Check out the highlights by @emirates 👇#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/8ORlKgHTcc
Osaka, who has never been past the third round in Paris, came into the tournament with a lot of clay court tennis under her belt.
She reached the last-16 in Rome, knocking out top-20 players Marta Kostyuk and Daria Kasatkina.
“I feel like I’m playing better because I have worked on specific things,” she added.
“But the results are not resulting!”
Osaka said she also took comfort in her personal journal which she updated immediately after the match.
“I wrote ‘I’m proud of you’. To say that to myself gives me power.”
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