Unseeded Osaka starts with tough Anisimova rematch

Naomi Osaka will not have the luxury of easing into her return to the courts of the French Open, facing a tough foe, 20-year-old American Amanda Anisimova, in her very first match.

Anisimova won a third-round encounter with Osaka at the Australian Open by a score of 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (5). Osaka was the defending champion at Melbourne Park.

Osaka is a four-time Grand Slam champion who used to be No. 1 in the rankings but has slipped to No. 38 in part because of a lack of activity. That included time off for a mental health break after she withdrew from Roland Garros ahead of her second-round match last year, revealing that she has dealt with anxiety and depression.

Because she is not seeded at the French Open, she was not safe from facing a seeded opponent right away, so that’s what will happen against Anisimova, the 27th seed and a 2019 semifinalist in Paris.

Thursday’s draw at Roland Garros also set up two tantalizing possibilities in the fourth round for No. 1 seed Iga Swiatek, the 2020 champion who is currently on a 28-match winning streak. She might need to go up against 2018 champion Simona Halep at that stage or 2017 champion Jelena Ostapenko, who just so happens to be the last woman to defeat Swiatek.

Leylah Fernandez, of Laval, Que., is seeded 17th and will take on France’s Kristina Mladenovic in the first round, while Mississauga’s Bianca Andreescu opens against a qualifier. Vancouver’s Rebecca Marino could join them in the main draw if she defeats Australia’s Seone Mendez in the final round of qualifying Friday.

The tournament begins Sunday. The possible women’s quarterfinals are Swiatek against two-time major runner-up Karolina Pliskova, and No. 3 seed Paula Badosa against No. 7 Aryna Sabalenka on the top half of the field, and defending champion Barbora Krejcikova against No. 5 Anett Kontaveit, and No. 4 Maria Sakkari against No. 6 Ons Jabeur on the bottom half.

Last year Krejcikova won in both women’s singles and doubles.