The Japanese megastar could still do it this year after escaping against Anna Karolina Schmiedlova in the first round in wet and windy Paris.
Twice in the second set Schmiedlova served for the biggest win of her topsy-turvy career but both times the 90th-ranked Slovak was broken and Osaka prevailed 0-6 7-6 (7-4) 6-1 to avoid becoming just the second women's top seed to lose her opener in Paris.
World No.1 Osaka will know she will need to raise her level in the second round when meeting fellow twice grand slam winner Victoria Azarenka, who downed 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko 6-4 7-6 (7-4) in a match-up that certainly stood out at Thursday's draw.
Schmiedlova entered this fortnight on a nine-match losing streak in majors and had fallen at the first hurdle at Roland Garros on her past three visits.
But she led 5-4 and 6-5 in the second set, with Osaka two points from defeat in that 12th game.
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