By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Friday, May 31, 2024
A flood of emotions caused Iga Swiatek to break down in tears after her pulsating Roland Garros comeback conquest of Naomi Osaka.
World No. 1 Swiatek dug down with deep defiance denying match point in a 7-6(1), 1-6, 7-5 second-round victory over fellow four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka on Court Philippe Chatrier.
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Afterward, as Swiatek did her post-match stretching routine in the gym, Roland Garros cameras caught the overwhelming emotion erupt as Swiatek started crying.
Queste sono le immagini di Iga Swiatek dopo il match vinto contro Osaka.
Pochi secondi per capire quanta pressione devono sopportare questi atleti.
E non importa se occupi il primo o l’ultimo posto del ranking.
C’è da soffrire, sempre.#EurosportTennis #Swiatek #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/CUZvrdEYNC— Eurosport IT (@Eurosport_IT) May 30, 2024
The three-time Roland Garros champion said afterward the relief from her great escape prompted the emotional release.
“Maybe I was crying because there are cameras on the gym,” Swiatek said. “Well, just overwhelmed with emotions. I honestly thought that I’m going to be out of the tournament.
“Even though I felt something on court, it kind of hit me after. I was happy that I won, but I still felt like I was really on the edge. So, yeah, I just cried.”
No time for tears today as Swiatek shredded Marie Bouzkova 6-4, 6-2 to score her 17th straight Roland Garros win and reach the French Open fourth round for the sixth straight year.
Photo credit: Mateo Villalba/Getty