Naomi Osaka is through to the fourth round at Roland Garros for the first time in her career after beating Iva Jovic in a tough three-set battle.
Osaka defeated Jovic 7-6, 6-7, 6-4 in just under three hours to advance to the round of 16 in Paris.
The Japanese star has now made the fourth round of a Grand Slam eight times in her career, but this is the first time outside of the Australian Open and the US Open.
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Despite the third-round exit, 18-year-old Jovic now has a couple more Grand Slam wins under her belt.
Following the match, Osaka had high praise for the young American star and made a prediction about her.
Naomi Osaka reacts after beating Iva Jovic at Roland Garros
Asked in her on-court interview if that was the best match she has ever played on clay, Osaka replied: “I mean, probably.
“I hope that every year I get better and better, but she’s an amazing player. It was my first time playing her, and I’m sure we’re going to see her very far in Grand Slams. Well, she already did, but more.”
Discussing her serve, the four-time major champion said: “Honestly, when I was younger, I didn’t have a good serve.
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“I was a little bit of a pusher, so it’s something that I developed later on. And yeah, I mean, I’m really glad that it was working.
“I think, you know, against some players, you really need to put your serve in, and she was very aggressive on my second serve, so I definitely felt a lot of pressure.”
Anne Keothavong impressed by Naomi Osaka’s attitude
Analysing Osaka’s performance on TNT Sports, former British player Anne Keothavong said: “Clay isn’t a natural surface for her, but I do think the conditions have helped.
“It’s been warm, it’s been lively, it’s been fast, it plays to her strengths. She certainly needed all the help she could get today.
“The willingness to really fight and battle out there, that’s what I love to see from Naomi Osaka. I don’t want to see her just fold under pressure.
“I want to see her just keep battling, keep bringing the energy, and today I thought she was outstanding in that department.”
Osaka will face either world number one Aryna Sabalenka or Daria Kasatkina in the next round at Roland Garros.
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