Did Paula Badosa Upset Naomi Osaka at the French Open?

Paris, May 26 (NationPress) Paula Badosa made a remarkable return at Roland Garros with an electrifying performance. The 27-year-old Spaniard, ranked 10th but dealing with injuries and uncertainty recently, pulled off an exhilarating comeback victory against Naomi Osaka with a score of 6-7 (1), 6-1, 6-4 on Court Philippe Chatrier.

“I need to be realistic,” Badosa stated before the tournament, downplaying her chances following a two-month injury hiatus. However, after the match in Paris, the former quarterfinalist demonstrated that she remains a formidable presence on the grand stage.

Badosa, having only played one complete match since March, overcame Osaka’s initial assault of 17 winners and four aces in the opening set, turning the momentum with her swift movements, deep returns, and impressive consistency.

The final set saw both competitors push each other to the limit, exchanging breaks until Badosa seized control in the seventh game and confidently finished the match without dropping a point.

This victory marks her 12th main-draw win at the French Open, the most she has achieved at any Grand Slam, propelling her into the second round against either McCartney Kessler or Elena Gabriela Ruse. “We both pushed each other to the edge,” Badosa reflected. “A first-round like this doesn’t seem fair, but I’m proud of how my body held up.”

For Osaka, the clay court continues to be a challenging surface—she now holds a 0-6 lifetime record against Top 10 players on clay. Despite hitting 36 winners, her 54 unforced errors proved detrimental.

While Badosa captured the spotlight in Paris, British tennis fans had reasons to celebrate as well. Katie Boulter, at 28 years old, achieved her first main-draw win at the French Open by defeating local wildcard Carole Monnet with scores of 6-7 (4), 6-1, 6-1. “This surface is often challenging for me,” said the world No. 38. “But I’ve persevered, and this win is special.”

Boulter may face reigning Australian Open champion Madison Keys, adding more excitement to her progression.

Meanwhile, Jacob Fearnley, a 23-year-old ranked 55th and participating in his first Roland Garros, shocked 2015 champion Stan Wawrinka in straight sets: 7-6 (6), 6-3, 6-2. In front of a supportive crowd on Court 14, Fearnley exhibited no signs of nerves. He traded early blows with the Swiss star before surging ahead in the second and third sets.

“There were lots of spectators chatting with me, mostly in French. They might have been saying nice things, but I’m not so sure,” Fearnley quipped afterward. This victory marks a significant milestone in his impressive rise; just a year ago, he was outside the top 500.

Fearnley is set to face either Ugo Humbert or Christopher O’Connell in the second round, maintaining an unbeaten streak in Grand Slam debuts after similar successes at Wimbledon and the Australian Open.