Eighth seed survives Colombian to book third-round berth
©️Corinne Dubreuil / FFTOns Jabeur knows better than to buy into the hype when a major rolls around and it seems to be serving her well after holding off Camila Osorio to move through to the third round at Roland-Garros 2024.
The eighth seed dashed 77th-ranked Osorio’s bid for a maiden last-32 showing in Paris with a 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 victory under the roof on Court Suzanne-Lenglen.
For the first time in four years the Tunisian’s name has not featured prominently among the favourites for the silverware following a relatively indifferent start to the season due to injury and form woes.
The former world No.2 would rather her results warranted otherwise but was more than comfortable that title talk was swirling more around the so-called ‘Big Four’.
Last year, Jabeur arrived with 11 wins to her name and had a golden opportunity to reach her first Roland-Garros semi-final before 14th seed Beatriz Haddad Maia scuppered those plans in the quarter-finals.
©Clément Mahoudeau / FFTThis time, she arrived having claimed just six matches for the year. Coming off a first-round exit to Sofia Kenin in Rome she had now quietly posted back-to-back match wins for just the second time this season.
“If people are not talking about me like they're talking about Iga or Aryna or Rybakina is for a reason,” Jabeur said. “I just want to have what I deserve. I deserve to be in the spot 8 or 9, because Pegula pulled out. Yeah, that's tennis.
“I am hanging in there. I'm trying to get back to my level or at least very close to the level I was in. It's not easy, you know. But nothing is sure about tennis. You can play unbelievable and lose, and you can play s--ty and win.”
Jabeur bolted out of the blocks to hold a 3-0 lead in just seven minutes and had points for 4-0 before Osorio stopped the rot.
It was the only hint of smooth sailing for the Tunisian throughout and the only time she strung together three straight games.
There was pain to come on serve. Jabeur failed to register an ace and landed just 54 per cent of first serves, from which she claimed just 60 per cent of points. The eighth seed faced break points in 13 games, of which she dropped serve six times.
Fortunately, she was equally effective at breaking her opponent (six from nine converted) and had few difficulties serving out the contest after an hour and 45 minutes.
©Clement Mahoudeau / FFTDespite having labelled herself the tour’s “Minister for Happiness”, the 29-year-old was anything but after she was broken for 3-1 in the second set.
While all was not lost, Osorio sensed the shift in momentum and began to raise her arm triumphant after each frantic scramble started to land more points than the opening set.
There was a spirited roar of “c’mon” when the Colombian levelled the match at a set apiece, but an early break in the deciding set ensured Jabeur’s body language took a turn for the better.
When she moved to within a game of victory a prolonged and steely fist pump and stare was directed towards her player’s box. It was more of the same with an added tap of the heart when the job was complete.
Osorio had already pulled off one lucky escape in the opening round when she fended off three match points before the rain came and her opponent Anhelina Kalinina succumbed to injury.
Against Jabeur, the gap has narrowed. Osorio, who has been ranked as high as world No.33 before injury struggles, made significant inroads on her opponent since they first met in the second round of the 2021 US Open, a match in which she salvaged just one game.
Last year they met again at Flushing Meadows where Jabeur narrowly prevailed and the Tunisian needed to dig even deeper this time round to keep the speedy 22-year-old at bay and set a third-round meeting against 21st seed Leylah Fernandez or Wang Xiyu.
ROLAND-GARROS
19 May - 8 June 2025
