Naomi Osaka is once again quickly eliminated at Roland Garros. The 24-year-old Japanese and Grand Slam winner lost 7-5 6-4 to American Amanda Anisimova.
Exactly an hour and a half later, Anisimova, ranked 27 on the ranking list, used her third game point with a backhand on the line. Anisimova and Osaka were already able to meet in the first round, because the Japanese slipped into the world rankings.
The 24-year-old Osaka, now ranked 38th in the world, hasn’t progressed past the third round in Paris. She withdrew last year after controversy over her decision not to attend press conferences. The tournament threatened to disqualify her, after which she decided to withdraw herself.
Anisimova (20) reached the semi-finals at Roland Garros in 2019 when she was a teenager. She then lost to eventual winner Ashleigh Barty.
Iga Swiatek secured a place in the second round with an impressive display of strength. The Polish world number one left Ukrainian Lesja Tsurenko, ranked 119th in the world rankings, without a chance to win 6-2, 6-0.
The one-sided match on the Philippe Chatrier indoor court lasted only 54 minutes. The roof of the main runway was closed due to rain in Paris on Monday.
In the last match, Swiatek (20) used her third game point, with the comeback winner. I’m glad I finished early. After media assignments, I have time to go to Paris for a while. What will I do? “Follow my Instagram,” said the Polish, who scored twenty winners.
For Swiatek, it was already her 29th straight victory. She is considered the favorite for the title in Paris. “I know my streak will end one day. But I want to keep going and focus 100 per cent every day on tennis and not stats.”
Swatik could face another Ukrainian player in the second round. Next, Dagana Jastremska has to beat American Alison Riske.
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