French Open: Osaka and Halep fight through openers

Naomi Osaka’s quest for a third consecutive Grand Slam title almost came to an abrupt end as the world No.1 struggled to book her spot in the second round of the French Open on Tuesday.

On a windy and chilly day at Roland Garros, Osaka, who won the US and the Australian Opens, lost the opening set to love against Slovakian Anna Karolina Schmiedlova before rallying for a 0-6 7-6(4) 6-1 victory.

“I think this is the most nervous I have ever been my entire life during a match,” she said.

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“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.”

Defending champion Simona Halep, Osaka’s potential semifinal opponent, also lost her way in the second set against Australian Ajla Tomljanovic in a 6-2 3-6 6-1 victory on a windswept Court Philippe Chatrier.

Back on my favourite battlefield ??????@rolandgarros

©Julien Crosnier / FFT pic.twitter.com/32h4r5Vgoe

— Simona Halep (@Simona_Halep) May 28, 2019

“It was not easy because of the emotions, the pressure,” the reigning champion told reporters.

“But these are nice emotions and I am happy I could win the match and get to play another one.”

Victoria Azarenka avoided the fate of fellow former world No.1s Angelique Kerber and Caroline Wozniacki, who were knocked out in the first round, when she beat 2017 champion Jelena Ostapenko 6-4 7-6(4).

The two-time Australian Open champion is heading in the right direction having risen back into the top 50 after giving birth to son Leo in December 2016.

“She’s one of the players that you never know what’s coming, and she doesn’t really give a lot of rhythm,” Azarenka said.

“For the first round, for me, that’s something very dangerous because it’s important to get into the rhythm, into the tournament. You need to find a way to win, and I felt that today that’s what it was.”

Osaka had the biggest scare, however, as spots of rain and swirling winds disrupted her game, with the Japanese failing to put a mark on the scoreboard in the first set.

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“For me today was a bit tough because it’s one of those matches where you’re not playing well but you have to find a way to win. For me, I’ve just begun learning how to do that,” Osaka said.

Schmiedlova twice served for the match, only for Osaka to raise her game and force the contest into a decisive third set during which her variety of shots and power proved too much to handle for the world No.90.