Coco Gauff carried Naomi Osaka’s bags off court after the Japanese star retired due to a lower back injury sustained during their match at the China Open on Tuesday. This incident highlighted the camaraderie and respect between the two young tennis icons, who have both enjoyed significant successes on the WTA Tour.
In the first meeting between the two Grand Slam champions in over two years, t he match showcased a competitive spirit. Osaka initially appeared to be in control, finding herself 6-3 and a break up at 4-3 before things took a turn. Unfortunately for her, fatigue set in, and she found herself struggling as Gauff capitalized on the opportunity. Osaka lost three consecutive games, including two of her service games, which resulted in her dropping the second set. Ultimately, with the pain from her lower back injury too much to bear, she made the difficult decision to retire from the match, displaying sportsmanship by shaking hands with Gauff before exiting the court.
Meanwhile, Gauff, the former US Open champion, advanced to the quarter-finals where she will face the No 115-ranked Yuliia Starodubtseva, who made headlines with her surprising victory over Anna Kalinskaya with a scoreline of 7-5 6-0. This match was a turning point for Gauff, as she looked to capitalize on her momentum and aim for a deeper run in the tournament.
It had been an encouraging week for Naomi Osaka, who was participating in her first tournament under the guidance of newly appointed coach Patrick Mouratoglou. For much of the match, Osaka displayed her prowess on the court, showcasing the promise of returning to form after a series of ups and downs in her career. This match was highly anticipated, marking the fifth encounter between the two significant figures in women’s tennis and the first since 2022.
In a separate quarter-final matchup, Paula Badosa turned in a phenomenal performance by reeling off 11 of the last 12 games, including an impressive eight consecutive wins to defeat US Open finalist Jessica Pegula with a shocking score of 6-4 6-0. This victory marked a significant achievement for Badosa as she advanced to her eighth career quarter-final at a WTA 1000-level event. Trailing 3-1 in the opening set, Badosa demonstrated resilience and skill, solidifying her status as a competitor to watch.
Badosa is set to face the 35-year-old Chinese veteran Zhang Shuai in the quarter-finals. Zhang continued her impressive form, winning her match against Magdalena Frech of Poland with a score of 6-4 6-2. She has experienced a remarkable turnaround, winning four consecutive matches after a previous streak of 24 losses, marking her first quarter-final appearance since Tokyo in 2022.
Additionally, Aryna Sabalenka showcased her dominance by extending her winning streak to 15 matches, reaching the China Open quarter-finals with a straight-sets victory over Madison Keys. The world number two displayed her prowess on the court, needing only 65 minutes to seal the match with a scoreline of 6-4 6-3. As the top seed, Sabalenka casts a long shadow over the tournament, looking ahead to face either Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic or Spain’s Cristina Bucsa in the last eight.
Sabalenka’s form has been stellar in 2024, with only one defeat coming on August 10 during the quarter-finals of the Canadian Open. During this impressive unbeaten run, she claimed victories at both the Cincinnati Open and the US Open, further solidifying her presence in the sport. If she continues her successful journey in Beijing, she may exert pressure on world number one Iga Swiatek, who opted to skip the China Open due to personal matters. The outcome of this tournament could prove pivotal in the ongoing season, setting the stage for exciting matchups and rivalries ahead.
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