Paris, May 29: Naomi Osaka secured her place in the third round of the French Open after a hard-fought match against Croatia’s Donna Vekic. The match, held on the Simonne-Mathieu court, lasted nearly two hours, with Osaka winning 7-6(1), 6-4.
The encounter between Osaka and Vekic was intense and competitive. Vekic, who won a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics, consistently applied pressure on Osaka and managed to hold her serve at the start of the match. However, Osaka elevated her game during the tiebreak, winning it decisively 7-1. She maintained her lead in the second set, securing her spot in the final 32.
This victory marks Osaka’s best performance in Paris since 2019. Although clay courts have not traditionally favored her, her performance in the opening week of the tournament has likely boosted her confidence.
In the third round, Osaka will face American player Eva Jovic. The 18-year-old Jovic advanced after defeating her fellow American Emma Navarro with a score of 6-0, 6-3. The first set lasted only 20 minutes, as Jovic dominated the match with aggressive returns and consistent baseline play. She achieved a strong victory in just 78 minutes.
This will be Jovic’s first time reaching the third round in Paris, marking a significant milestone in her impressive season. She made her Grand Slam debut by reaching the quarter-finals at the Australian Open earlier this year.
The upcoming match between Osaka and Jovic is anticipated to be one of the most exciting clashes in the women’s draw’s third round.
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