"How the hell she came back" - Tennis fans react to Iga Swiatek's narrow win against Naomi Osaka in French Open 2R

Tennis fans were awestruck by Iga Swiatek and Naomi Osaka following their second-round match at the 2024 French Open. The four-time Grand Slam champions staged a fascinating contest, with Swiatek eventually coming out on top.

Swiatek, the two-time defending champion, locked horns with an unseeded Naomi Osaka on Court Philippe Chatrier on Wednesday, May 29. Going into the match, the Pole was the outright favorite, given her recent claycourt wins (titles at the WTA 1000s in Madrid and Rome) and Osaka’s lack thereof.

Iga Swiatek was also coming off a dominant 6-1, 6-2 victory over Leolia Jeanjean in the first round. Osaka, meanwhile, barely survived her opening match 6-1, 4-6, 7-5, despite having the lead.

However, despite the odds being against her, Naomi Osaka gave the World No. 1 a run for her money. After the tightly contested opening set went Swiatek’s way 7-6 (1), Osaka, who returned to competition after a maternity break, made a stunning recovery in the second set, allowing the three-time champion just one game, 6-1.

In the decider, Naomi Osaka made the first move by breaking her opponent in the second game. She soon rushed to a 5-2 lead and served for the match at 5-3. Iga Swiatek, though, proved too hot to handle for the Japanese during crucial moments of the game. The Pole fended off a match point to keep herself alive and eventually broke the former World No. 1.

Naomi Osaka was pipped at the post by Swiatek as the Pole banked on her momentum to close out the contest, 7-6(1), 1-6, 7-5, at the three-hour mark. Tennis fans were amazed by the two multiple-Grand Slam champions trading blows in the second round of the French Open.

"How the hell she came back to win this after that second set and the first half of the third. I cannot wait to the rivalry these two will have over the next few years. Spectacular, both of them," a fan said on X.

"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAAAAT oh my god SHE REALLY WIN THAT. It should be the final, not 2nd round. MY HEART," another fan said.

"A real Houdini act by Swiatek; that match looked like Osaka's for the entirety of 2 sets—minus one match point," yet another fan chimed in.

"She is truly rafa's daughter," one fan said, pointing at the Pole's admiration for 14-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal.

"If you want to know what it is to be out of the jail, ask Iga. Incredible and many heart in the mouth situations. Truly incredible," one individual said.

One fan was devasted by Naomi Osaka's loss.

"Grand Slam Tennis gives me a headache, this sport is not relaxing at all. Such a sad loss for Naomi Osaka, she had match point," the fan wrote.

Iga Swiatek was also praised for her consistency and ability to emerge victorious in the face of defeat.

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Iga Swiatek keeps her French Open three-peat hopes alive with Naomi Osaka victory

Iga Swiatek has won the French Open thrice in her young career (Image Source: Getty)

Iga Swiatek has advanced to the third round of the 2024 French Open following her win against Naomi Osaka.

The Pole is chasing her fourth title at the tournament and third on the trot, having been the champion in 2020, 2022 and 2023. She's in pursuit of her fifth Grand Slam title overall, having won the 2022 US Open.

On Friday, May 31, Swiatek, who turns 23, will face Marie Bouzkova or Jana Fett for a spot in the fourth round.