French Open 2024: Naomi Osaka wins opening Grand Slam match, sets up possible clash vs Iga Swiatek in 2nd round

Tennis star Naomi Osaka has earned her first Grand Slam win in over two years at the French Open 2024, as she recently defeated Lucia Bronzetti in the opening round of the women's draw on Court Philippe-Chatrier on Monday. Osaka defeated the Italian star 6-1, 4-6, and 7-5. Notably, the star player had missed the 2023 year owing to the birth of her child, but she couldn't make a great comeback as she suffered an early exit from the Australian Open in January.

Meanwhile, this win by the Japanese player also marks her first win at Roland Garros since 2021, as she was spotted in the public dispute with the tournament after announcing that she would not sit for the post-match conference.

However, the unseeded Osaka, who is currently at rank number 134, might face world number one Iga Swiatek in the second round, who is a three-time French Open winner as well as having recently won the Mutua Madrid Open 2024 and the Italian Open 2024 after defeating world number two Aryna Sabalenka. In addition, Iga is set to face Leoloa on Monday.

However, the 26-year-old has accepted that she also feels very nervous during the first round of the slams and has a fear of getting knocked out at the start of the event. The Japan-born star revealed that she wanted to stay as long as in the ongoing marquee event.

I always feel a lot more nervous during the first round of Slams: Naomi Osaka

"I think for me I always feel a lot more nervous during the first round of Slams, just because I want to do well so badly, and the first round is the first round, so you kind of almost feel like the tournament didn't even start and you're out if you lose," Osaka said in her pre-event press conference on the eve of the tournament.

"That's for me what I feel. But I think, I don't know, growing up, the Slams were the tournaments that I watched on TV the most. I just want to be here for as long as I can," she added further.