In her first appearance at the French Open in three years, Naomi Osaka has reached the second round after defeating Italy’s Lucia Bronzetti in a thrilling 6-1 4-6 7-5 victory. As a four-time major champion, Osaka has struggled on clay in the past but is now feeling comfortable on the surface. Ranked 134th in the world, this is her first time advancing past the last 32 at Roland Garros.
Osaka led 4-0 in the third set before Bronzetti mounted a comeback, but she ultimately secured her first win at Roland Garros since returning from maternity leave in January. The win sets up a potential showdown with defending champion and title favorite Iga Swiatek in the second round.
In an interview after the match, Osaka expressed her gratitude for being back on the court and mentioned that she is feeling more comfortable playing on clay than she used to. She also discussed how she continues to adjust her game to perform better on different surfaces, including clay. Overall, this victory marks progress for Osaka as she looks forward to continuing her journey back to the top of women’s tennis.