Nadal returns to Roland Garros to practice amid doubts over fitness and formDefending French Open champion and World No 1 Iga Swiatek faces fellow four-time grand slam winner Naomi Osaka in the match of the day at Roland Garros, as rain continues to disrupt the schedule in Paris.
Swiatek, 22, is looking to make it three-in-a-row at French Open and takes on Osaka in a tantalising second round match-up under the roof on Court Philippe-Chatrier.
Osaka, 26, returned to the tour at the start of the season after a 15-month maternity break, and this will be the former World No 1’s biggest challenge since giving birth to her daughter Skai.
Carlos Alcaraz resumed his French Open campaign with victory over Jesper de Jong, but was pushed to four sets against the Dutch qualifier, while Jannik Sinner, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Andrey Rublev are the other high-seeded men in action.
Elsewhere in the women’s singles, US Open champion Coco Gauff takes on Slovenian qualifier Tamara Zidansek after home favourite Caroline Garcia was knocked out by former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin.
Yesterday, Katie Boulter and Dan Evans joined the British exodus from Roland Garros, with all six British players entered in the main draw failing to reach the second round in Paris
Follow all the latest tennis scores and results from Day 4 at Roland Garros below:
1716997354French Open: *Iga Swiatek 0-1 Naomi OsakaOsaka finds two big first serves and holds with a backhand winner down the line. Excellent hold with Swiatek applying early pressure.
Jamie Braidwood29 May 2024 16:42
1716997264French Open: *Iga Swiatek 0-0 Naomi OsakaOsaka starts with a double fault before firing down a thunderous serve down the middle. Swiatek then displays her huge hitting from the baseline, striking from inside the court to set up an early break point. Osaka finds a first serve as Swiatek nets, and then wins a heavy duel of groundstrokes up and down the court.
Swiatek absorbs another huge forehand from Osaka, but finds a clever angle and puts away the volley.
A brilliant early level so far. Still on deuce.
*denotes next server
Jamie Braidwood29 May 2024 16:41
1716996859French Open: Iga Swiatek vs Naomi OsakaLet’s go! Osaka will serve first.
(REUTERS)Jamie Braidwood29 May 2024 16:34
1716996729French Open: Iga Swiatek vs Naomi Osaka up nextThankfully we’ve got a roof on Philippe-Chatrier, as Swiatek and Osaka make their way out onto court!
With eight grand slam titles between them, what a match we have on our hands here. Swiatek and Osaka have only met twice, with both on hard courts. They have a win a piece – the last in the Miami final in 2022, which Swiatek won comfortably.
Swiatek is in the form on her life on clay as she targets a third French Open title in a row. She has won 13 matches in a row this season, winning the titles in Madrid and Rome.
Osaka is only just working her way back, ranked 134 in the world after missing 15 months. She’s the huge underdog and admitted so herself. Even when Osaka was World No 1, her best result at the French Open is the third round.
Jamie Braidwood29 May 2024 16:32
1716996466French Open: All matches on outside courts cancelled due to rainA statement from Roland Garros confirms: “Due to the poor weather, all remaining matches scheduled to take place today on Simonne-Mathieu Court and the outside courts have been cancelled.”
We had just 50 minutes of action earlier, so that is likely to have a big impact on the week’s schedule. Plenty to catch up on.
(REUTERS)Jamie Braidwood29 May 2024 16:27
1716996267French Open: Iga Swiatek vs Naomi Osaka up nextHere’s what the players said about each other ahead of today’s match.
Swiatek on Osaka: “She’s a great person and her game style is pretty fun to watch. I’m glad she came back and she’s playing more tournaments even than before the break.
“I haven’t actually played against Naomi obviously on clay, so we’ll see how that’s going to go.”
Osaka on Swiatek: “I watched her a lot when I was pregnant. It’s an honour to play her in the French Open because she has won more than once here. It’s a very big challenge for me.
“It’s a test to see where I’m at but I wouldn’t say I have low expectations of myself. I’m a person that thinks that I can win every match that I play.
“That’s gotten me this far. I’d never play a match thinking lowly of myself, no.”
(Getty Images)Jamie Braidwood29 May 2024 16:24
1716996157French Open: Iga Swiatek vs Naomi Osaka up nextRIght then, up next we have the match of the day at the French Open, as Iga Swiatek takes on Naomi Osaka.
The two most successful players on the women’s side of the draw meet each other in the second round, as defending champion and World No 1 Swiatek takes on the returning Osaka, almost a year after giving birth to her daughter Shai.
What a match-up we have in store next, under the roof of Philippe-Chatier.
Jamie Braidwood29 May 2024 16:22
1716995816French Open: Carlos Alcaraz speaks after victory over Jesper de JongCarlos Alcaraz 6-3 6-4 2-6 6-2 Jesper De Jong
“As I said many times, every player in this tournament can give you trouble. YOu have to be focussed in every match, every round, It doesn’t matter than I’m at the top of the rankings and I’m playing someone outside the top-100. Jesper saw that too. He has the level to keep going and I’m sure he is going to break the top-100.
“The third set I saw I need to forget about [having fun] and put myself into the rally. I was in trouble a little bit but was happy to get it done in the end. In the match, we did lots of drop shots and I think he did it better than me!
“I would have preferred to not spend too much time on court but every match is different. One match can be one hour and a half, another can be three hours. It is good for me but I would have preferred less time out here!”
Up next for Alcaraz will be either the 27th seed Sebastian Korda, the big-serving American, or Soonwoo Kwon. Their match got underway earlier but was suspended by the rain. So that’s an advantage for Alcaraz after that three-hour battle.
(REUTERS)Jamie Braidwood29 May 2024 16:16
1716995339French Open: Game, set and match!Carlos Alcaraz 6-3 6-4 2-6 6-2 Jesper De Jong
Alcaraz battles through in just over three hours!
Well that was fun. I don’t think many people expected much of a contest between the Wimbledon champion and Dutch qualifier, with 173 ranking places between them.
But De Jong was inspired at times, taking Alcaraz on with variety and drop shots, using many of the Spaniard’s weapons against him.
He had Alcaraz wobbling in the third and start of the fourth, before fading physically just as we were wondering if a major upset was on the cards.
Alcaraz was able to settle, too, but he will need to improve if he is going to challenge for the title in Paris. In the end, he gives himself to chance to do that after reaching the third round.
(REUTERS)Jamie Braidwood29 May 2024 16:08
1716994996French Open: Carlos Alcaraz 6-3 6-4 2-6 5-2 Jesper De JongAs the match clock ticks over three hours, Alcaraz might be finally there. He moves a game away from the third round after taking charge of the rallies of sending De Jong chasing. The 21-year-old will hope he has worked his way through the worst of the storm.
Jamie Braidwood29 May 2024 16:03
