Japan’s Naomi Osaka arrives on court prior to her women’s singles match against Croatia’s Donna Vekic on day 5 of the French Open on May 28, 2026.
Photo: JULIEN DE ROSA
Former world number one Naomi Osaka has made a second dazzling entry at the French Open, but she was made to work hard to avoid the exit door in a 7-6(1) 6-4 victory over Croatian Donna Vekic in the second round.
Osaka, who wore a sequined waistcoat blouse and black mesh train over her layered yellow-brown and gold match dress in the opening round, arrived for the contest with Vekic in a white floor-length flared train over her outfit.
On another blazing day in Paris, the Japanese player traded breaks freely with Vekic in the opening set, before finding her best form during the tiebreak to prevail for the loss of only one point.
Japan’s Naomi Osaka plays a backhand during her second round win over Croatia’s Donna Vekic at the 2026 French Open.
Photo: THOMAS SAMSON
Down a set, Paris Olympics silver medallist Vekic began to deploy a series of drop shots to trouble Osaka early in the second set but her challenge fizzled out as she surrendered her serve in the ninth game.
Osaka saved a break point in the next game to close out the win in one hour and 50 minutes, reaching the third round for the first time since 2019.
She will face 16th seed Iva Jovic in the third round, after the American beat compatriot Emma Navarro 6-0 6-3 earlier.
Other winners in the womens draw in the second round were top-seed Aryna Sabalenka who downed French hope Elsa Jacquemot 7-5 6-2 while defending champion Coco Gauff eased past Egypt’s Mayar Sherif 6-3 6-2.
– Reuters