Osaka reaches the Roland-Garros third round for the first time in seven years, Jovic next

Naomi Osaka, the 16th seed and four-time Grand Slam champion, beat Croatia’s Donna Vekić 7-6(1), 6-4 on Court Simonne-Mathieu on Thursday to reach the third round of Roland-Garros for the first time since 2019.

Vekić, the world No. 72 and a 2024 Olympic silver medallist on these courts, served for the opening set before Osaka raised her level when it mattered. The Japanese took the tie-break 7-1, then held her advantage through a tighter second set to close out the match in straight sets.

It was the kind of clay-court tennis that has been a long time arriving for a player who, only a couple of years ago, was a self-described novice on the surface.

Osaka’s best run at Roland-Garros

The result ties Osaka’s best run at Roland-Garros – she has now reached the third round here four times but never gone further. “It means a lot to be back in the third round,” Osaka said afterwards. “I just feel so grateful. It’s another milestone. I just want to keep going.”

She had again drawn attention before the first ball with her walk-on outfit, a detachable white skirt over a sparkling dress. “Grand Slam walk-ons are the only time that I possibly feel like I’m an entertainer,” she said.

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With the win, Osaka moves into a meeting with American 17th seed Iva Jovic. The American teenager had booked her place with a statement performance of her own. Jovic, the 18-year-old prodigy, beat compatriot Emma Navarro 6-0, 6-3 on Thursday to reach the third round at Roland-Garros for the first time.

The opening set lasted barely 20 minutes; Navarro, the 25th seed, never settled. The win carried an edge of revenge. Eight days earlier, Navarro had beaten Jovic 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 in the round of 16 in Strasbourg, on her way to the WTA 500 title there – the only previous meeting between the two Americans.

The winner of Osaka against Jovic is seeded to meet Aryna Sabalenka in the fourth round if the World No.1 wins her next matches.