French Open 2025: Osaka defeats Vekic 7-6, 6-4 to reach Round 3
Synopsis
Naomi Osaka's clay-court comeback just got its most compelling chapter. A gritty 7-6(1), 6-4 win over Olympic silver medallist Donna Vekic sends her into a first-ever meeting with 18-year-old Iva Jovic — with world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka potentially waiting in Round 4. It is Osaka's deepest run at Roland-Garros in six years.
Key Takeaways
Naomi Osaka defeated Donna Vekic 7-6(1), 6-4 at Court Simonne-Mathieu on 29 May 2025 to reach the French Open third round.
It is Osaka's best result at Roland-Garros since 2019 and only her fourth third-round appearance at the tournament.
Iva Jovic , 18, beat Emma Navarro (25th seed) 6-0, 6-3 in 78 minutes to set up the next-round clash.
Jovic had lost to Navarro just eight days earlier in Strasbourg during Navarro's WTA 500 title run.
The Osaka-Jovic winner is projected to face world No.
1 Aryna Sabalenka in the fourth round.
Naomi Osaka advanced to the third round of the French Open 2025 on Thursday, 29 May, defeating Croatia's Donna Vekic 7-6(1), 6-4 in a hard-fought contest lasting nearly two hours at Court Simonne-Mathieu in Paris. The result marks the four-time Grand Slam champion's best run at Roland-Garros since 2019 and only her fourth time reaching the third round at the clay-court Major.
How the Match Unfolded
The scoreline suggested a comfortable straight-sets win, but the contest was anything but straightforward. Vekic, who claimed Olympic silver at the 2024 Paris Games, held serve to open the match and consistently applied pressure on Osaka's groundstrokes throughout the first set. The pivotal moment arrived in the tie-break, where Osaka raised her level decisively, claiming it 7-1. She then maintained a slender lead through the second set to seal her place in the last 32.
Osaka's Clay-Court Resurgence
Clay was once widely regarded as Osaka's least favourable surface, but her movement and patience on the red dirt have visibly improved during this tournament's opening week. Her victory over Vekic continues a promising comeback arc, with analysts noting a more measured baseline game compared to her earlier Roland-Garros campaigns. This is her fourth third-round appearance at the French Open — a milestone that underlines her growing comfort on the surface.
Next Opponent: Teenager Iva Jovic
Waiting in the third round is 18-year-old American Iva Jovic, who produced one of the day's most commanding performances, dismantling fellow American Emma Navarro — the 25th seed — 6-0, 6-3 in just 78 minutes. The opening set lasted a mere 20 minutes as Jovic overwhelmed Navarro with aggressive returns and relentless baseline play. It was a particularly significant result for Jovic, who had lost to Navarro in three sets just eight days earlier in Strasbourg during Navarro's title-winning run at the WTA 500 event there.
The win also marks Jovic's first third-round appearance at Roland-Garros, adding to a breakthrough season that included a quarter-final debut at the Australian Open earlier this year.
What the Osaka-Jovic Clash Means
The third-round encounter between Osaka and Jovic is shaping up as one of the most compelling matchups in the women's draw — a former world No. 1 still recalibrating her game against a teenager rapidly building confidence on the biggest stages. The winner is expected to face current world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the fourth round, should the top seed progress through her section of the draw. Notably, Thursday's match will be the first career meeting between Osaka and Jovic.
Point of View
But the more telling detail is how she won — a dominant tie-break after absorbing sustained pressure from a player who won Olympic silver on the same Parisian clay last summer. That mental resilience, not just improved movement, is what has been missing from her clay game. The Jovic match is a genuine test: the teenager's flat, aggressive ball-striking is exactly the kind of pace that has historically disrupted Osaka's rhythm. If Osaka handles it, a Sabalenka quarter-final becomes a legitimate storyline. If she doesn't, this run remains a promising footnote rather than a turning point.
NationPress
13 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the result of Osaka vs Vekic at the French Open 2025?
Naomi Osaka defeated Donna Vekic 7-6(1), 6-4 in the second round of the French Open 2025 on 29 May at Court Simonne-Mathieu in Paris. The match lasted nearly two hours, with Osaka sealing the first set via a 7-1 tie-break.
Who does Naomi Osaka play in the third round at Roland-Garros 2025?
Osaka will face American teenager Iva Jovic in the third round — their first-ever career meeting. Jovic, 18, reached Round 3 by beating 25th seed Emma Navarro 6-0, 6-3.
Why is Osaka's French Open 2025 run significant?
It is Osaka's best result at Roland-Garros since 2019 and only her fourth time reaching the third round at the clay-court Major. Clay has historically been her least favoured surface, making this run a notable marker in her ongoing comeback.
How did Iva Jovic perform against Emma Navarro?
Jovic dominated Navarro 6-0, 6-3 in 78 minutes, with the opening set taking just 20 minutes. The win was a swift reversal of a three-set loss to Navarro in Strasbourg only eight days earlier.
Could Osaka face Aryna Sabalenka at the French Open 2025?
Yes, according to the draw, the winner of the Osaka-Jovic third-round match is expected to meet world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the fourth round, provided Sabalenka advances through her section of the bracket.
