Naomi Osaka serves against Amanda Anisimova during their first round match at the French Open. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)Naomi Osaka’s return to the French Open has ended in the first round.
The former top-ranked player lost her opening match to Amanda Anisimova 7-5, 6-4 at Roland Garros on Court Suzanne Lenglen.
Osaka is a four-time Grand Slam champion who took two mental health breaks last season. That included one that began when she withdrew before her second-round match at the French Open.
Anisimova is a 20-year-old American who reached the French Open semifinals in 2019. She also beat Osaka in the third round at the Australian Open in January.
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Osaka double-faulted twice on break point, once in each set. After the second, which gave Anisimova a 4-3 lead, Osaka took a 40-0 lead in the next game but the American held.
Osaka played with tape on her left Achilles. She was stretching it and kicking it with her right foot when she was broken in the seventh game of the second set.
Naomi Osaka admits her Achilles injury was affecting her serve specifically.
“Coming into this tournament, I hadn’t served a lot because we kind of wanted to wait until last minute to protect my Achilles.”#RolandGarros
— James Gray (@jamesgraysport) May 23, 2022
Top-seeded Swiatek wins 29th in a row
Top-seeded Iga Swiatek has extended her winning streak to 29 matches by advancing to the second round of the French Open.
The Polish player, who won the French Open title in 2020, beat Lesia Tsurenko 6-2, 6-0 in the first round on Court Phillipe Chatrier.
Swiatek’s winning streak is the longest by any woman since Serena Williams won 34 in a row in 2013. She has won the title at her past five tournaments.
Swiatek has also won a tour-leading 14 sets at 6-0 this season.
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