World No. 1 Iga Swiatek dropped some major praise on former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka ahead of their French Open match as the Pole spoke very highly of the Japanese as a player but also as a person.
After four-time Grand Slam champion Osaka defeated Lucia Bronzetti 6-1 4-6 7-5 on Sunday, Swiatek ousted Leolia Jeanjean 6-1 6-2 on Monday to set up a second-round showdown between two players that have four Grand Slams in their collections.
When Swiatek, 22, and 26-year-old Osaka meet at the French Open, it will be their third meeting overall and also their first meeting since the Japanese launched her post-pregnancy comeback. Previously, Osaka defeated Swiatek when the Pole was just starting her career in 2019 Toronto while the current world No. 1 won their 2022 Miami final meeting with a 6-4 6-0 scoreline.
After overcoming Bronzetti in her opener at Roland Garros, Osaka said she was rooting for Swiatek to beat Jeanjean so she could meet her in the second round because she considered facing the Polish three-time French Open champion at Roland Garros as “an honor.”
Swiatek returns the favor to Osaka, full of praise for the Japanese
“Really impressed. I think, you know, she’s a great…
