Beyond the on-court clash between Naomi Osaka and Iga Swiatek in the French Open’s second round lies a deep-rooted friendship. A recent heartwarming fan tweet has further fueled the anticipation for this match, highlighting the bond these two stars share. Will their off-court camaraderie translate to a thrilling display of sportsmanship, or will pure competitive fire reign supreme?

A fan of Iga Swiatek (Ignator) recently took to X and described the special bond between Swiatek and Osaka. According to the post, the two went out to dinner in Melbourne during the Australian Open 2020. There, they both had a heart-to-heart conversation with each other. On one hand, Naomi Osaka revealed her mental struggles and about not being happy.

On the other, the World No. 1 said she was unhappy with her progress on court and considering leaving the tour and going to college. But Naomi Osaka convinced her otherwise, and the Polish tennis pro took the advice. What followed later was “You’re welcome, Iga,” from Osaka, who said it jokingly. However, this is not the only glimpse of their friendship that fans have witnessed.

During the lockdown period in 2020, the former World No. 1 conducted interviews with various players in her Instagram Live sessions. And when fans requested that she interview Swiatek and reveal their bond, Osaka complied. 

During the interview, both shared how, in 2019, the seed of their unique bond was planted when they met during the North American swing. It was the first time that both played against each other. It was when they met in the third round of the Canadian Open in Toronto and Naomi Osaka emerged victorious. However, instead of being sad, Swiatek admitted, “When we were playing against each other, I was excited for the whole match. That was the first match I lost, where I wasn’t even mad after.”

Naomi Osaka, on the other hand, revealed how they first saw each other in Birmingham. But their initial meeting ended up with Swiatek’s stare at the Japanese tennis pro and the latter wondering why so. However, the connection between them started when they played in Toronto. Recalling those times, the four-time grand slam champion said, “But in Toronto, I was like, ‘Oh, actually, she’s very nice!’, and I was surprised because I thought you hated me or something… so the entire time, I was like, ‘Oh, no!'”

“I always thought you were very interesting, and you were playing very well and I wanted to observe was you were doing, just to be better,” the now-22-year-old player concluded. After Toronto, they started growing closer and even practiced together at the US Open. And since then, both have appreciated each other’s performances on different occasions.

Naomi Osaka’s and Iga Swiatek’s appreciation for each other during their matches

Naomi Osaka and Iga Swiatek have played twice against each other, both winning once each in their encounters. The first time, when Osaka emerged victorious in Toronto, Swiatek took to her X and wrote, “I’ve never been so satisfied after a loss.😉🤷‍♀️ Thank you @Naomi_Osaka_for a geat match🤯 #RC19 @rogerscup.”

On the other hand, when Swiatek won her first French Open title back in 2020, Osaka’s reaction stole the hearts of fans. She put up an Instagram story with a picture of her final match, captioning it “My girl out here winning the French Open 😭😭😭 @iga.swiatek 🥳❤️.”

After almost two years since their Miami Open encounter, Naomi Osaka will once again be face-to-face with Swiatek. But hopefully, even amid the intensity of the match, fans will get a glimpse of their amazing bond too!