Naomi Osaka got here inside one level of rocking the tennis world as she held match level towards defending champion and world No 1 Iga Swiatek on the French Open, however the second of glory slipped by her fingers.
Osaka appeared set to tug off her largest win in years when she led the world primary and defending champion 5-2 within the third set, however the 26-year-old from Japan can have nightmares a couple of missed forehand as Swiatek survived a match level to come back from the brink of defeat and win 7-6 (1) 1-6 7-5.
It was a exceptional effort from Osaka, the previous world No 1 who solely returned to motion after maternity go away in January.
4-time Grand Slam champion Osaka has by no means notably appreciated enjoying on the clay, having not progressed previous the third spherical in Paris, and is now ranked 134 on the planet.
Swiatek, against this, has appeared invincible on her greatest floor this season, profitable her final 13 matches together with titles in Madrid and Rome, and was a red-hot favorite for a 3rd successive Roland Garros title, and a fourth in 5 years.
But it was Osaka who had the match in her grasp as she took management of the deciding set, solely to slide up when the profitable line approached.
“I cried after the match, however I watched Iga win Roland Garros final 12 months whereas I used to be pregnant so I can’t be too exhausting on myself,” mentioned Osaka.
“I performed her on her greatest floor. I’m a tough court docket baby. It was my dream simply to play her. I feel I did fairly nicely towards her on her floor. I wanna play her on exhausting courts, my floor.
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“It was a really enjoyable match, in all probability probably the most enjoyable I’ve performed. Very memorable.”
Osaka made her return to tennis firstly of this 12 months after changing into a mom in 2023 and he or she was ranging from scratch in some ways, along with her rating down at No 747 simply three months in the past.
Not solely was she looking for her ft again on the match court docket after so lengthy away, however the fourth time Grand Slam champion was additionally in a race for factors as she tried to get herself right into a place to be seeded for main occasions as soon as once more.
It was at all times going to take time for Osaka to get again to the highest, however he standing secured her entry to high tier WTA Tour occasions through wildcards and a few spectacular performances noticed her make a speedy stand up the rankings.
Making the quarter-finals in Doha in February noticed her climb 461 locations within the rankings and he made additional leaps to be knocking on the door of the highest 100 heading into the French Open.
Her wins towards high 20-ranked gamers Marta Kostyuk and Daria Kasatkina on the WTA 1000 occasion in Rome earlier this month was an indication that Osaka is getting again to a stage to combine it with the very best gamers within the recreation, however beating clay court docket queen Swiatek at Roland Garros would have been an enormous second in her comeback.
Victory on this match would have pushed Osaka near a return to the highest 100 of the WTA Rankings, however it could even have left an enormous gap within the high half of the draw if she had knocked Swiatek out.
Regardless of her apparent disappointment, Osaka will look to the remainder of 2024 with actual optimism and he or she seems to be set to be an actual risk when she will get onto her favoured exhausting courts in America in August.
This was the very best efficiency of her comeback to this point and if she will pushed the world No 1 this shut on her favoured clay courts, Osaka is getting again to her sensible greatest.
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