Draw places Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams on collision course at French Open

Michael Graham 24 May 2019 8:35 AM

Naomi Osaka (JPN) and Serena Williams (USA) during the trophy ceremony after the women final at the Billie Jean National Tennis Center in New York City, NY, USA on September, 8, 2018. Naomi Osaka won the US Open after an angry Serena Williams accused the umpire of being a 'thief' in some of the most dramatic scenes at a Grand Slam final. Williams was given a game penalty for her outburst, which followed racquet smashing and another code violation as Osaka won 6-2 6-4. Photo by Corinne Dubreuil/ABACAPRESS.COM

Naomi Osaka, Serena Williams, and Simona Halep have all been drawn in the same half of the draw for the 2019 French Open.

Osaka, who has won her last 14 Grand Slam matches, will meet Anna Karolina Schmiedlova in the first round, but her second match at the tournament could be a real blockbuster.

2017 champion Jelana Ostapenko will face Victoria Azarenka in the opening round, with Osaka to play the winner.

It may not even get any easier for Osaka if she comes through that one, with last year’s semi-finalist Madison Keys potentially laying in wait.

Serena Williams and Ashleigh Barty are also in Osaka’s quarter of the draw, making her potential path to the final incredibly tough.

Defending champion Halep will kick off her campaign against Ajla Tomjanovic, and may run into Petra Kvitova in the quarter-finals.

Last year’s runner-up Sloane Stephens has drawn Misaki Doi first up, but with Garbine Muguruza, Venus Williams, and Elina Svitolina in the same quarter, she is likely to be tested.

Kiki Bertens, the fourth seed, will start against Pauline Parmentier, with Johanna Konta and Belinda Bencic the biggest dangers to her in her quarter.

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