French Open | ‘It was my best match on clay’: Naomi Osaka

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Naomi Osaka continued to shine in the City of Light as she beat American teenager Iva Jovic 7-6 (7-5), 6-7 (3-7), 6-4, in the French Open third round on Saturday.

The four-time Grand Slam champion continued what is already her longest Roland Garros run.

“I was a lot calmer than in my first matches. In a slam the further I get the calmer I am. It such an honour to be here. It’s the furthest I have ever been here,” she said.

When asked if this was her best match on clay, Osaka replied: “Yes, it probably was.”

She will next face Belarusian World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, who beat  Australian Daria Kasatkina 6-0, 7-5.

In a match dominated by the serve, Osaka gained the decisive break in the 10th game of the third set. Jovic, seeded 17, opened the game with a 162kph ace, but after that, faltered when Osaka returned, finding the net twice and then hitting long on the first match point.

The players exchanged breaks early in the first set and midway through the second before both went to tiebreaks.

Osaka edged the first. Jovic, 18, raced away to win in the second.

The 28-year-old Osaka said her serve had been crucial against her young opponent.

“I am really glad it was working,” said Osaka. “Against some players you need to put your serve in and she was very aggressive on my second serve.”

First
Naomi Osaka had never beaten a Top 30 player at the French Open prior to Saturday 

79%
Percentage of points Naomi Osaka won on her first serve

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