For Osaka, one of the WTA’s “big dogs” includes five-time Grand Slam winner Iga Swiatek. The Japanese player got the perfect confirmation that her comeback was on the right track last year, when she pushed Swiatek to three sets at Roland Garros and even earned a match point before the Pole rallied, 7-6 (1), 1-6, 7-5.
It’s a match that she won’t rewatch—Osaka hates seeing herself on tape, and hearing the sound of her voice on video—but she says it’s one she still takes inspiration from.
“That match is really important to me, because I don’t typically feel good about my game on clay. To do so well against her, where she’s won like three or four French Opens, it was a really good confidence-booster,” she said.
“And I do think about that match sometimes when I’m having a hard day, like today.”
Osaka, a finalist here in 2022, will next face No. 24 seed Liudmila Samsonova, who moved into the second round after receiving a bye.
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