Osaka Battles to Fourth Round, Prepares for Sabalenka Showdown at French Open
Naomi Osaka dazzled at Roland-Garros, showcasing both her talent and bold fashion choices as she triumphed over American teenager Iva Jovic. Osaka secured a hard-fought victory with scores of 7-6 (7-5), 6-7 (3-7), 6-4, in a match that lasted just under three hours, advancing to face world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the fourth round. In contrast, Sabalenka had a smoother path, defeating Australian Daria Kasatkina with a score of 6-0, 7-5. Osaka's outfit, featuring a gold sequined top and skirt, drew criticism from her first-round opponent Laura Siegemund, who dismissed the fashion aspect of the tournament. However, Osaka embraced her style, adding variations like a metallic bomber jacket, stating, "It's a surprise every time." The match against Jovic was intense, with Osaka initially struggling to capitalize on set points. She finally clinched the first set in a tie-break, but Jovic bounced back to take the second set in another breaker. The deciding set saw both players exchanging powerful shots until Osaka seized a match point at 5-4 on Jovic's serve, which she converted. Reflecting on her performance, Osaka expressed gratitude for reaching the fourth round for the first time, stating, "I think in Slams, the further I get, the calmer I am - because it's such a privilege to be here." Meanwhile, Sabalenka's dominant performance against Kasatkina reaffirmed her status as a favorite, as she continued to build momentum in the tournament.
Source: Sky Sports - 2026-05-30