On a sunlit afternoon at Roland Garros, the 2025 French Open delivered a dramatic first-round clash that had fans on the edge of their seats. Paula Badosa, the Spanish world No. 10, emerged victorious against four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka in a gripping 6-7(1), 6-1, 6-4 battle on May 26, played out on the hallowed clay of Court Philippe-Chatrier. The match, which lasted two hours and 21 minutes, saw Badosa rally from a set down to secure her place in the second round, where she’ll face either Elena-Gabriela Ruse or McCartney Kessler. After the intense showdown, Badosa found solace in the arms of her boyfriend, Stefanos Tsitsipas, who had also advanced earlier that day with a 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 win over Tomas Etcheverry. The couple’s heartfelt embrace, shared moments after their respective victories, became a poignant highlight, capturing a blend of relief and triumph in Paris.
The match was a rollercoaster from the start. Osaka, ranked No. 49, came out firing, her powerful serve—reaching speeds up to 125 mph—and aggressive baseline play pushing Badosa to the brink in the first set. Despite Badosa holding a set point at 6-5, Osaka dominated the tiebreak, dropping just one point to claim the opener 7-6(1). “Since Rome, I have had blisters on my hands. I think it’s from the friction of clay, because I don’t have blisters on any other surface,” Osaka later explained, addressing the blisters that prompted a medical timeout after the first set. During the break, she trimmed her cherry blossom-themed nails, which had been causing discomfort, in a moment that amused fans and commentators alike. “I can’t imagine this happens too often on the tour where the nails are just too long,” remarked Laura Robson, noting Osaka’s struggle to adjust her strings between points.
Badosa, however, seized control in the second set, capitalizing on Osaka’s reduced grip strength due to her blisters. The Spaniard won the first five games, cruising to a 6-1 rout as her precise forehands and defensive prowess shone. “Honestly, it’s not fair to play her first round,” Badosa said post-match, acknowledging Osaka’s pedigree. “She’s a player I respect a lot, what she did on and off court. I love her tennis. But I’m really happy with the level, especially coming from an injury.” The third set was a test of resilience. Osaka surged to a 2-0 lead, but Badosa, inspired by a bronze plaque of Rafael Nadal’s footprint near the court, fought back. “I have to say that when I was 7-6 down, the first thing I did was to look over there,” she said. “I’m like, ‘Come on Paula, you have to fight like he was.’ Thanks Rafa. We really miss you.” A crucial break in the seventh game and a 14-point service hold at 4-3 sealed her victory, with a final forehand winner at mid-court mirroring Tsitsipas’ win over Etcheverry at nearly the same moment.
Badosa’s journey to this point has been marked by perseverance. After a back injury nearly ended her career in 2023, she roared back in 2024, earning the WTA Comeback Player of the Year award with a Wimbledon fourth-round run and a US Open quarterfinal. Her 2025 Australian Open semifinal, where she defeated Coco Gauff, further solidified her resurgence, though recent back issues limited her clay preparation to just two matches in Strasbourg. Osaka, meanwhile, has been rebuilding since her 2023 maternity break, her recent WTA 125 title in Saint-Malo marking a significant milestone. Yet, clay remains her Achilles’ heel, with no French Open run beyond the third round. “As time goes on, I feel like I should be doing better,” a tearful Osaka said in her press conference, briefly stepping away to compose herself. “I hate disappointing people.” Her emotional reflection, coupled with her work with coach Patrick Mouratoglou, formerly Serena Williams’ mentor, underscores her ongoing quest to rediscover her peak form.
The match, billed as a blockbuster due to the players’ contrasting comeback stories, lived up to its hype. Social media buzzed with reactions, from fans calling Osaka’s nail-trimming moment “iconic” to others praising Badosa’s grit. The couple’s embrace, celebrated by posts online, added a romantic note to a day of high-stakes tennis, with Tsitsipas and Badosa reveling in their shared success. As Badosa prepares for her next challenge, her ability to channel Nadal’s fighting spirit and find comfort in Tsitsipas’ support signals a player ready to make a deep run in Paris.
# Badosa’s Triumph and Tsitsipas’ Embrace at French Open 2025
On May 26, 2025, Paula Badosa outlasted Naomi Osaka in a thrilling 6-7(1), 6-1, 6-4 first-round match at the French Open, played on Court Philippe-Chatrier. The Spanish No. 10 seed, down a set, rallied to advance in 2 hours and 21 minutes, later sharing a heartfelt embrace with boyfriend Stefanos Tsitsipas, who also won his match against Tomas Etcheverry 7-5, 6-3, 6-4.
## A Dramatic Clash
Osaka, ranked No. 49, took the first set 7-6(1), dominating the tiebreak after saving a set point. Struggling with blisters, she took a medical timeout to trim her cherry blossom-themed nails: “Since Rome, I have had blisters on my hands. I think it’s from the friction of clay, because I don’t have blisters on any other surface.” Commentator Laura Robson noted: “I can’t imagine this happens too often on the tour where the nails are just too long.”
## Badosa’s Comeback
Badosa stormed back, winning the second set 6-1 and breaking Osaka in the seventh game of the third to secure a 6-4 victory. Inspired by Rafael Nadal’s legacy, she said: “I have to say that when I was 7-6 down, the first thing I did was to look over there. I’m like, ‘Come on Paula, you have to fight like he was.’ Thanks Rafa. We really miss you.” She praised Osaka: “Honestly, it’s not fair to play her first round. She’s a player I respect a lot, what she did on and off court. I love her tennis.”
## Osaka’s Emotional Reflection
Osaka, emotional post-match, said: “As time goes on, I feel like I should be doing better. I hate disappointing people.” Her clay struggles persist, with no French Open run beyond the third round, despite a recent WTA 125 title in Saint-Malo.
## A Couple’s Triumph
Badosa’s win, coinciding with Tsitsipas’ victory, led to a touching embrace celebrated online. After a 2023 injury scare, Badosa’s 2024 WTA Comeback Player award and 2025 Australian Open semifinal highlight her resilience. She next faces Ruse or Kessler, aiming for a deep Roland Garros run.
Winning couple 😍#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/IPPeHJQrsI
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 26, 2025
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