World number two Naomi Osaka let her racquet do the talking at Roland Garros on Sunday when she reached the second round with a 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) victory over Romania’s Patricia Maria Tig.
The 23-year-old Japanese star, a four-time Grand Slam title winner, has refused to carry out media obligations at the tournament, claiming news conferences are detrimental to her mental health.
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However, she did agree to a quick on-court television interview after Sunday’s win.
“For me, playing on clay is a work in progress,” said the reigning US and Australian Open champion on a sun-kissed Court Philippe Chatrier.
Osaka, who has never got past the third round in Paris, fired 39 winners but committed 35 unforced errors against her 63rd-ranked opponent.
Next up for the second seed is another Romanian player, Ana Bogdan.
Third seed Aryna Sabalenka also moved into the second round with a 6-4 6-3 victory over Ana Konjuh on Court Suzanne-Lenglen.
And Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova survived a big scare against Belgian qualifier Greet Minnen in her opening round, having to save a matchpoint en route to a 6-7(3) 7-6(5) 6-1 win.
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