Defending champion Iga Swiatek begins Roland Garros title defense, books Naomi Osaka clash

Iga Swiatek began her quest for a third straight Roland Garros title in style on Monday, blasting past Léolia Jeanjean, 6-1, 6-2 to win a 15th consecutive match in Paris.

The ever-streaking world No. 1 had won her last 12 matches before arriving on the terre battue, having captured back-to-back titles at the Mutua Madrid Open and the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, and made relatively quick work of the French qualifier to advance under the Court Philippe-Chatrier roof in 61 minutes and book an intriguing second-round match with former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka.

At 22, Swiatek has already lifted the Coupe Suzanne-Lenglen three times in the last four years, first winning at Roland Garros as an unseeded teenager in 2020. She has only taken one loss in Paris since, storming back from a quarterfinal exit in 2021 to drop just two sets in her last two appearances, defeating Coco Gauff and Karolina Muchova in the 2022 and 2023 finals, respectively.

Her 2024 clay-court season began with a surprising loss in the semifinals of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix—a tournament where she had been hitherto undefeated—but made up for that minor setback with aplomb when she became only the third woman to win both Madrid and Rome in the same season, following Dinara Safina and Serena Williams.

The overwhelming favorite to win a fourth time at Roland Garros drew a qualifier, who like Swiatek, has enjoyed her signature result in Paris—albeit on a smaller scale. The 28-year-old Jeanjean played college tennis at Lynn University but revisited her pro ambitions to great success in 2022 when, as a wild card, she stunned former world No. 1 Karolina Pliskova en route to the third round.

Swiatek proved a much stiffer challenger from the outset as the Pole converted all three break opportunities to sweep the opening set in 30 minutes flat.

Jeanjean gave the Chatrier crowd something to cheer for at the start of the second set when she opened with a break of her own, but Swiatek swiftly regained the initiative, reversing a 30-0 deficit in the following game to break back. She won 10 straight points to put herself a game from the finish line, striking a powerful forehand to set up three match points and converted with a backhand into the open court.

Awaiting her in the second round is Osaka, who matches Swiatek for total majors won but has historically struggled on clay. Osaka navigated three tough sets with Italian Lucia Bronzetti on Sunday, her first Grand Slam main draw win since becoming a mother.