Roland Garros Day 3 – Naomi Osaka Survives Near Upset, Alexander Zverev Stays Alive in Five
(May 28, 2019) World No. 1 Naomi Osaka was five times within two points of losing in the first round of the French Open on Tuesday in Paris. Her opponent, Slovak Anna Karolina Schmiedlova served for the match twice in the second set but could not close.
The U.S. Open and Australian Open champion overcame her nerves and her numerous errors to win 0-6, 7-6(4), 6-1.
“I feel like I’m thinking too much about the number next to my name right now, instead of feeling free and having fun like I normally do in Grand Slams,” Osaka said after the match. “The reason that I wasn’t moving my feet is because I was super nervous, super stressed.”
“It was my first time playing a Grand Slam as No.1. I won the last two [majors], so I kind of want to win this one really bad. I have never played on Chatrier before. This was my first time.
“I kind of feel like I’m having the thought of wanting to prove myself again.”
“I think this is the most nervous I have ever been my entire life during a match,” she said after the match. “I think you could see that in the first set. I was literally not hitting any balls in the court.
“For me, today was weird because usually the nerves go away, but it kind of stayed the entire match. Then I just felt like it was a fight of willpower. I managed to win in the end.”
Osaka hit 10 aces, 36 total winners, and made 38 unforced errors versus Schmiedlova who nailed 3 aces, hit 9 winners, and made just 14 unforced errors.
The win extends her streak in majors to 15 straight wins, as she’s attempting to capture a third consecutive major title.
Osaka’s next match won’t be easy either. The woman who represents Japan will face off against two-time Australian Open winner Victoria Azarenka in the second round. Azarenka stopped 2017 Roland Garros Winner Jelena Ostapenko in straight sets.
“It’s going to be exciting for me,” said Azarenka. “I love to challenge myself against the best players.”
Defending champion Simona Halep had to fight off Australian. Ajla Tomljanovic 6-2, 3-6, 6-1.
Osaka news conference
No. 5 seed Alexander Zverev almost blew a two-set lead to John Millman but held on in the fifth set to defeat the Australian 7-6 (4), 6-3, 2-6, 6-7 (5), 6-3 in 4 hours and 8 minutes. Millman beat Roger Federer in the fourth round of the US Open last year.
The German hit 57 winners and 73 unforced errors during the match, along with double-faults.
“I’m through, and that’s all that matters,” Zverev said.
“Today was a tough one, I expected it to be a long match. For a first match it was a great match,” said Zverev. “John played unbelievable. He made life so difficult for me. I am just happy to be in the next round, looking at the positive things.”
No. 9 seed Juan Martin del Potro played his first major tournament since hurting his knee last Fall. The Argentine beat Chilean Nicolas Jarry 3-6, 6-2, 6-1, 6-4.
No. 14 seed Gael Monfils beat the sunset as well as his opponent Taro Daniel 6-0, 6-4, 6-1.
May 28, 2019 singles Results
Women’s Singles – First Round
[1] N. Osaka d AK. Schmiedlova 06 76(4) 61
[3] S. Halep d A. Tomljanovic 62 36 61
[11] A. Sabalenka d D. Cibulkova 75 61
[14] M. Keys d E. Rodina 61 62
[16] Q. Wang d S. Zheng 61 75
K. Muchova d [17] A. Kontaveit 36 62 62
[21] D. Kasatkina d [Q] J. Paolini 62 63
[22] B. Andreescu d M. Bouzkova 57 64 64
[24] C. Garcia d M. Barthel 62 64
[27] L. Tsurenko d E. Bouchard 62 62
[29] M. Sakkari d A. Tatishvili 60 61
K. Siniakova d [Q] E. Rybakina 76(5) 61
V. Azarenka d J. Ostapenko 64 76(4)
A. Anisimova d H. Tan 63 61
M. Puig d K. Flipkens 61 75
[Q] A. Blinkova d M. Gasparyan 63 46 86
A. Krunic d D. Gavrilova 63 22 ret.
M. Linette d [W] C. Paquet 36 61 62
I. Swiatek d [W] S. Janicijevic 63 60
[Q] K. Nara d D. Jakupovic 75 57 63
I. Begu d L. Zhu 61 61
[W] P. Hon d T. Babos 36 62 61
Men’s Singles – First Round
[5] A. Zverev d J. Millman 76 (4) 63 26 67 63
[8] J M del Potro d N. Jarry 36 62 61 64
[9] F. Fognini d A. Seppi 63 60 36 63
[10] K. Khachanov d Cedrik-Marcel Stebe 61 61 64
[14} G. Monfils d T. Daniel 60 64 61
[18] R. Bautista Agut d S.Johnson 63 64 62
(22) L. Pouille d S. Bolelli 63 64 75
[23] F. Verdasco d D. Evans 63 67(4) 63 62
[28] K. Edmund d J. Chardy 76(1) 57 64 46 75
[30] D. Lajovic d T. Monteiro 63 64 64
G. Barrere d M. Ebden 63 57 75 61
E. Benchetrit d C. Norrie 63 60 62
F. Delbonis d G. Garcia-Lopez 61 36 63 62
T. Fritz d B. Tomic 61 64 61
A. Hoang d D. Dzumhur 64 06 765 63
I. Karlovic d F. Lopez 76(4) 75 67(7) 75
M. Klizan d M. Kukushkin 36 57 64 62 63
Y. Nishioka d M. McDonald 67(7) 60 46 62 63
J. Thompson d A. Davidovich Fokina 63 62 76(3)
M. Ymer d B. Rola 60 63 76(5)
