Osaka survives three-set scare against teenager Jovic

AFP

Naomi Osaka has dazzled with an all-gold outfit but had to dig deep for a hard-fought 7-6(5) 6-7(3) 6-4 victory over American teenager Iva Jovic on Saturday to reach her first-ever French Open fourth round.

Playing in a gold sequined top and skirt - her latest fashion statement in Paris - Osaka found it hard going from the start, with the American teenager dulling her opponent's sparkle in her first Grand Slam third-round appearance.

The 18-year-old Jovic may have found herself in unknown tournament territory, but looked completely at ease on Court Suzanne Lenglen as she pushed the former world number one to a first-set tiebreak.

Osaka, seeded 16th, had wasted two set points at 6-5 and needed three more before subduing the American 7-5 in the tiebreak.

It was a similar story in the second set, with a break apiece and Jovic winning the second tiebreak to level.

The third set was again on a razor's edge, with Jovic refusing to buckle and matching Osaka's power blow for blow. But the Japanese carved out a match point at 5-4 on the American's serve and converted it to move into the next round.

She will now play either top seed Aryna Sabalenka or Australian Daria Kasatkina.

More from Sports News

On Virgin Radio today

  • The Fix With Dany Neville

    7:00pm - 11:00pm

    Officially the UAE's favourite DJ, Dany Neville makes sure you have the soundtrack you need every Saturday night.

  • Musical Freedom

    11:00pm - Midnight

Hit Music