Osaka survives, Djokovic and Serena stroll on

Date :31-May-2019

Paris:

Naomi Osaka staged a second successive Roland Garros great escape on Thursday as fellow top seed Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams strolled into the last 32. World number one Osaka, bidding to add the French Open to her US and Australian Open titles, came back from a set and 2-4 down to defeat former world number one Victoria Azarenka 4-6, 7-5, 6-3. Her win came on the back of being just two points from defeat in her tournament opener against Anna Karolina Schmiedlova.

Siniakova, the world number 42, also endured a marathon win, putting out Greek 29th seed Maria Sakkari 7-6 (7/5), 6-7 (8/10), 6-3 in a three-hour 10-minute duel. Novak Djokovic cruised into the last 32 for the 14th successive year, admitting it had been an emotional day playing for the first time in front of his four-year-old son. Djokovic, bidding to become just the second man to hold all four Slams at the same time twice, cruised to a 6-1, 6-4, 6-3 win over Swiss lucky loser Henri Laaksonen.

Watching from the player's box on Court Suzanne Lenglen was Djokovic's son Stefan. “It's a very special day for me as it's the first time in my life that I have played in front of my son, said Djokovic. the 32-year-old Serb after a 23rd straight win at the Slams. He showed incredible patience to sit there for an hour and a half. Usually, he's not that patient with tennis.