French Open 2019: Osaka wins in three sets to reach third round

Reigning US and Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka on Thursday came back from the set down for the second match in a row to reach the third round of the French Open with a 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 win over Victoria Azarenka.

Osaka, the world No. 1, dropped the opening set 4-6 to two-time Australian Open champion Azarenka, who then served for the match at 5-4 in the second.

Osaka won the three games in a row to take the set and then raced to 5-1 lead in the decider.

Azarenka broke back as the Japanese-American player served for the match and then held her serve. Serving for the match a second time at 5-3, Osaka saved a break point but then sent the ball into the net on her first match point. The world No. 1 took the win on her second match point when Azarenka sent a return long.

In the first round, Osaka was bageled by Anna Karolína Schmiedlová in the first set, before winning the second set in a tiebreak and easing through the third 6-1.