Naomi Osaka staged a second successive Roland Garros great escape yesterday as fellow top seed Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams strolled into the last 32.
World No 1 Osaka, bidding to add the French Open to her US and Australian Open titles, came back from a set and 2-4 down to defeat former world No 1 Victoria Azarenka 4-6, 7-5, 6-3.
Her win came on the back of being just two points from defeat in her tournament opener against Anna Karolina Schmiedlova.
The 21-year-old held her nerve, despite squandering two match points late in the deciding set, to secure a clash against Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic.
“I was lucky to have played Victoria twice before. I knew she had been playing well coming into the tournament,” said Osaka.
“It was an unfortunate second round draw for me so I am happy to win.”
Osaka finished the two-hour 50-minute encounter on Court Suzanne Lenglen with 52 winners and 43 unforced errors.
