Naomi Osaka has set up a mouthwatering clash against Aryna Sabalenka at the French Open.
Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, fought valiantly to defeat American youngster Iva Jovic on Saturday.
It was an almighty battle on Court Suzanne Lenglen, but Osaka ultimately prevailed 7-6, 6-7, 6-4 in the Paris heat.
Meanwhile, Aryna Sabalenka secured her place in the fourth round with a 6-0, 7-5 victory over Australian player Daria Kasatkina.
Naomi Osaka and Aryna Sabalenka have been confirmed as a night session match… is this the right call?
Could it hurt women's tennis if the match is not a thriller?
Andy Roddick has attempted to predict the winner of Monday’s fourth-round contest, which is set to be played during the Roland Garros night session.
Andy Roddick believes Aryna Sabalenka will defeat Naomi Osaka at Roland Garros
Roddick, the former world number one and 2003 US Open champion, began by discussing Osaka’s marathon match against Iva Jovic.
“Osaka v Jovic was a big one,” the American said on the Served Podcast.
“Props to Naomi Osaka. This is not traditionally been her favourite surface.”
Osaka, a former world number one, will make her debut appearance in the Roland Garros fourth round when she plays Aryna Sabalenka on Monday.
“I thought Jovic played well. I thought that Osaka, you know, has stepped up,” Roddick continued.
“But yeah, listen, Jovic is amazing. I think she’s a top five player at some point, like, very, very soon.
“And the people who have been able to play really big, whether it’s Sabalenka in Australia, whether it’s Osaka here, you know, I think she has some catching up to do, physically to kind of handle the power of of these big hitters.
Naomi Osaka’s Roland Garros campaign so far
- First round: defeated Laura Siegemund 6-3, 7-6
- Second round: defeated Donna Vekic 7-6, 6-4
- Third round: defeated Iva Jovic 7-6, 6-7, 6-4
- Fourth round: Aryna Sabalenka
“But Iva Jovic is, you know, this does nothing for my enthusiasm, for her career moving forward, but well done for Naomi, right.”
Roddick went on to carry out his Roland Garros ‘re-draw’: making his draw predictions for the remainder of the women’s singles event in Paris.
During the re-draw, Roddick predicted that Sabalenka would defeat Osaka in Monday’s fourth-round contest.
It is easy to understand why Roddick has made this prediction when noting that Sabalenka has already beaten Osaka twice this year.
Can anyone realistically stop Aryna Sabalenka from going ‘all the way’ at Roland Garros this year? 🏆
Naomi Osaka’s record against Aryna Sabalenka
Naomi Osaka and Aryna Sabalenka first contested a match at the 2018 US Open.
Osaka emerged victorious from their first meeting, winning 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 in the fourth round.
Eight years later, the pair played their second match on the WTA Tour.
In Indian Wells, Sabalenka comfortably defeated the Japanese four-time Grand Slam champion 6-2, 6-4.
A few weeks later, Sabalenka again defeated Osaka; this time at the Madrid Open.
After winning their round of 16 contest 6-7, 6-3, 6-2, Sabalenka stated that Osaka had played ‘incredible tennis.’
“She played incredible tennis,” the Belarusian said, as per The Guardian.
“I feel like I just got lucky in a couple shots in the third set, that’s why it went that fast.
“I’m happy she brought that fight, I had to fight through to level up my game.”
