In the middle of the big drops, the earth almost shook… Iga Swiatek, world No. 1, double title holder and big favorite for her own succession, came within a whisker of elimination in the 2nd round against the returning Naomi Osaka (7-6, 1-6, 7-5).
After losing the first set in the tie-break, the Japanese, who returned to the circuit in January after a year and a half of maternity break, flew through the second and led 4-1 break point then 5-3 point match in the third.
Without doubt the best match since the start of the tournament
A breathtaking duel of concrete blocks lasting almost three hours. The best match since the start of the tournament. In her black sequined dress, the former queen of the WTA shone brightly before fading as she delivered the final blow.
A few dozen minutes later, the winner of four Grand Slams (two Australian Opens and two US Opens), helmet on her head and dressed in a black and yellow jersey from Kobe Bryant’s Lakers, nevertheless displays a broad smile in Press room.
Osaka vs Swiatek is a brilliant watch😍 wta need to do more to capitalise on these match ups!
— Andy Murray (@andy_murray) May 29, 2024
“It will remain a memorable, fun match, with an incredible atmosphere,” says the 134th in the WTA rankings. It’s not my worst defeat. I cried coming off the court but I realize that I watched Iga win last year when I was pregnant and my dream was to be able to play here. I think I didn’t do too badly, I can’t be too hard on myself. »
Apart from a slight lack of aggressiveness on certain points, the young woman, 26 years old, has no regrets. “The last time I played Iga, I had a bagel (6-4, 6-0 in 2022) in Miami,” she says. If she is No. 1, there is a reason, and she negotiated certain points better. But I think I can come out of this experience better. There are so many positives to take. After my defeat in the 2nd round in Madrid, I asked my team if I could be top 5 again. These kinds of matches are very good for me. »
“I have my little notebook and in it I’m going to write: I’m proud of you…”
Swiatek certainly didn’t expect so much resistance. “She took a lot of risks, but everything was within the bounds,” says the Pole. She surprised me. Her shots were clean and heavy on this fairly fast clay court which is closest to a hard court (the Japanese’s favorite surface). Plus, she didn’t necessarily have any expectations or pressure… I’m happy that she’s back because she deserves these big courts. I have a lot of respect for everything she had to go through and the fact that she had to combine her lives as an athlete and a mother. »
Last January, Osaka made her comeback after fifteen months of tennis hiatus to give birth to her little Shai (gift, in Hebrew). And many thought they would never see her again with a racket in her hand. The companion of the rapper Cordae was in fact tormented by serious mental health problems which had earned her an incredible forfeit during Roland-Garros in 2021. The last Olympic torch runner in Tokyo was then injured and had gradually lost the flame.
“It gave me a different perspective,” she explained when returning to the Australian Open. Like, you’re not going to play tennis forever. You have to bless these years when you can still play. I want to be a good example for my daughter and I want her to see that this is an important part of my life. »
Closed and introverted by nature, the face of major luxury brands seems more open, does not hesitate to joke and seems to be less afraid of the world around her. Known for her activism (involved in the Black Lives Matter movement, she played the 2020 US Open by wearing a mask in each match in tribute to African-American victims of police violence), the new mother is gradually cracking the armor .
“Tonight, the crowd was really cool,” she says. I live for moments like this. They made me feel like they were having fun and in the end that’s what counts. It doesn’t matter who wins or loses. I have my little notebook and in it I’m going to write: I’m proud of you…”
