Naomi Osaka squeaks by Lucia Bronzetti to advance to French Open second round

Lucia Bronzetti gave it all that she had to provide a magical comeback against Naomi Osaka in the first round of the French Open. Bronzetti knows a thing or two about big comebacks because she was on the wrong side of one in the Rabat quarterfinals with Peyton Stearns days ago when she had a 5-0 and 40-30 advantage in the third set but lost the match.

Osaka played lights out tennis in the first set showing fans excellent shotmaking, footwork, and minimial unforced errors. The tide turned in the middle of the second set when Osaka's level began to drop, and the errors crept into her game. She dropped the second set forcing the deciding third.

Naomi Osaka hit the reset button and began cruising in the third set looking like the player who was bulldozing through the first set. The 4-0 lead she built seemed insurmountable, but just as she did in the second set, the level dropped and forehand unforced errors returned. Osaka held on with great play at the end of the third with the help of a few unlucky clay court bounces and the first net court of the match going against Bronzetti. Osaka won the match in over two hours and dealt with the highs and lows of her game as well as gusty wind.

Osaka most likely faces Iga Swiatek next

For those talking about Rafael Nadal's unfortunate draw, Naomi Osaka is dealing with it also. Her second round match will likely be against three-time French Open champion Iga Swiatek who faces French qualifier Leola Jeanjean on Monday. The French fans love Swiatek but will certainly be cheering for one of their own to pull off the massive upset.

Osaka has never experienced the best results on clay court. Her career-best is getting to the third round, but if she has a chance to beat Swiatek, she will need to keep her level up. Bronzetti maximized the dips in Osaka's level as best she could, but Swiatek will pounce even harder on Osaka given those opportunities.

Naomi Osaka knows tougher challenges lie ahead. As for Bronzetti, she wanted to play the role that Peyton Stearns played in her Rabat run, but it was not to be.

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