French Open 2024: four times Naomi Osaka, the reigning Grand Slam champion, advanced to the second round after triumphing in her first match since giving birth. Although Andrey Rublev, the sixth seed, advanced, Ugo Humbert, the local favorite, was eliminated.
- Naomi Osaka needed three sets to win her first-round match
- Osaka likely to face Iga Swiatek in the second round
- Andrey Rublev progressed, 17th seed Ugo Humbert crashed out
After returning from a maternity leave, four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka won her maiden Grand Slam match. On Sunday, May 26, the first day of the main draw at Roland Garros, the former World No. 1 upset World No. 67 Lucia Bronzetti in the women’s singles first round, 6-1, 4-6, 7-5 in 2 hours and a minute at the Phillipe Chatrier.
Naomi Osaka lost to Caroline Garcia in the first round of the Australian Open after returning from a 15-month hiatus earlier in the year. But in the run-up to the Roland Garros, the great player had a strong run on clay, one of her weakest surfaces. She advanced to the pre-quarterfinal in Rome in May, despite her early elimination in Madrid.
Osaka looked shaky in the opening-round win on Sunday. After dominating the first set against Bronzetti, the World No. 134 dropped her second set. Osaka got off to a rocking start in the decider, taking a 4-0 lead, and looked like cruising to a victory. However, Osaka lost four or five games on the trot and served to stay in the match before wriggling out of trouble.
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Naomi Osaka will next play the winner of another first-round match between World No. 1 Iga Swiatek and Jeanjean, a qualifier in Paris.
Osaka had spoken about improving on clay, hoping to have a good run in Roland Garros. Notably, the former numero uno had not gone past the third round in the clay-court Grand Slam.
BOUZKOVA FIRST WINNER IN PARIS
Meanwhile, Czech Republic’s Marie Bouzkova became the first player to win a match in the opening round when she upset 29th seed Veronika Kudermetova 6-2 6-4. Kudermetova has now fallen in the first round of her last three tournaments on clay.
RUBLEV ADVANCES, HUMBERT OUSTED
In the men’s singles, 17th seed Ugo Humbert was the first-seeded player to crash out. The local favorite was beaten by Lorenzo Sonego 6-4, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 in 2 hours and 49 minutes. The World No. 16 showed signs of form when he reached the quarter-finals of the Monte Carlo Masters in which he beat Sonego. However, his early exit comes as a disappointment for the local fans.
Meanwhile, 6th seed Andrey Rublev progressed to the second round after a labored win against Japan’s Taro Daniel. Rublev, who won the Madrid Masters and sparked hopes of a deep run in Paris, needed 3 hours and 11 minutes to progress to the second round, beating Daniel 6-2, 6-7 (3), 6-3, 7-5.
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