Iga Swiatek came through a titanic second-round clash with fellow four-time grand slam champion Naomi Osaka to reach the French Open third round.
Osaka looked set to pull off her biggest win in years when she led the world No 1 and defending champion 5-2 in the third set. However, the 26-year-old from Japan will have nightmares about a missed forehand as Swiatek survived a match point to come back from the brink of defeat and win 7-6 (1), 1-6, 7-5.
It was a remarkable effort from Osaka, the former world No 1 who only returned to action in January having taken a break to start a family. She has never particularly enjoyed playing on the clay, either, having not progressed past the third round in Paris, and is now ranked No 134 in the world.
Poland’s Swiatek, by contrast, has looked invincible on her best surface this season, winning her last 13 matches including titles in Madrid and Rome, and was a red-hot favourite for a third successive Roland Garros title, and a fourth in five years.
Tumaini Carayol’s report from Roland Garros will follow shortly …