“The atmosphere was incredible,” Naomi Osaka has contrasting views on ‘loud crowd’ to that of Iga Swiatek’s concerns at 2024 Roland Garros crowd

Osaka also talked about her performance in the match.

“The atmosphere was incredible,” Naomi Osaka has contrasting views on ‘loud crowd’ to that of Iga Swiatek’s concerns at 2024 Roland Garros crowd

Naomi Osaka and Iga Swiatek (Via Imago)

Japanese tennis ace Naomi Osaka and World No. 1 Iga Swiatek locked horns on Wednesday on Court Phillipe-Chatrier at the 2024 Roland Garros. It was a thrilling match that will stay afresh in the memories for a long time. Not just the players but the crowd too was feeling the heat and was reacting to the ebbs and flows of the game. While Iga Swiatek found all of it disturbing, Osaka enjoyed the atmosphere.

The two players reacted contrastingly to the crowd’s involvement in the game. Swiatek felt it was tough for her to focus on the rally with people screaming in the background. The Polish ace said that it is fine with her if these things between the rallies but when they happen during the rallies, it is problematic.

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Swiatek also made a modest request to the fans and hoped they understood her concerns. With the World No. 1 raising these concerns, her opponent was asked the same question in her post-match press conference and Osaka did not shy away from putting a different perspective on the table. She said that it was one of the most enjoyable atmospheres for her.

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I thought it was a really fun match, probably the most fun I've played to date. The atmosphere was incredible. Everyone in the audience seemed to be having a lot of fun. It was really memorable for me. I realized that last year I watched this tournament and I was watching Iga, while I was pregnant, winning this tournament and my dream was to play against her.
Naomi Osaka said about the crowd at 2024 Roland Garros.

Naomi Osaka waiting for Iga Swiatek to play on her best surface

Naomi Osaka talked about the atmosphere and how she was lost in the match to such an extent that she could not realize if she had a match point with her. The 26-year-old then went on to talk about her experience of playing against Iga Swiatek.

Naomi Osaka
Naomi Osaka (Via Imago)

Osaka said that she was playing the best player in the world and that too on her best surface. Thus, Osaka said she was not being too hard on herself. The Japanese ace seemed satisfied with her performance and cleared that she now has her eyes set on the US Open. She also indirectly challenged Swiatek to play on her best surface, which is hard court.

It was just my dream to be able to play her. When I kind of think of it like that, I think I'm doing pretty well. I'm also just trying not to be too hard on myself. I feel like I played her on her better surface. I'm a hard-court kid, so I would love to play her on my surface and see what happens. I also said in Australia that I'm kind of setting myself up for September anyway.
Naomi Osaka said. (H/T: WTA Tour)

Notably, all four of Osaka’s Grand Slam titles have come on hard court. While she has won two titles in Australia, she also has two titles at the US Open. Hence, Osaka is preparing for the tournament that suits her the most.

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