Naomi Osaka came within a point of upsetting two-time defending champion Iga Swiatek before going down 7-6(1), 1-6, 7-5 in an epic second-round battle at the French Open on Wednesday.
Former world No. 1 Osaka pushed fellow four-time Grand Slam champion and current No. 1 Swiatek to the limit in a nearly three-hour showdown under the roof on Court Philippe-Chatrier.
With few victories against top opponents on clay, Osaka looked set to stun the three-time Roland Garros winner as she showcased her power from the baseline and earned the chance to serve for the match at 5-3 in the decisive set.
But the Polish champion was able to break back on the way to winning four straight games and keeping alive her bid for a French Open three-peat.
The 26-year-old Osaka said it was "probably the most fun match that I have played" in the five months since returning to competitive tennis following the birth of her daughter Skai.
"It just felt really incredible, the atmosphere, and how much fun I guess everyone in the crowd was having, too," Osaka said. "It was definitely very memorable for me."
Japan's former men's world No. 4 Kei Nishikori and American 15th seed Ben Shelton were deadlocked 5-5 in the first set when their match was suspended due to bad weather.
