Quarterfinal pairs are all set now at the China Open and Friday’s final eight schedule will finish with a much-anticipated first-time meeting between Naomi Osaka and Bianca Andreescu, two young WTA forces that have won the last three hardcourt Grand Slams.
The fourth-seeded Osaka won the last ten games of her Thursday’s third-round match against Alison Riske, advancing with a 6-4 6-0 victory. The Japanese who won the Toray Pan Pacific Open title in Osaka last month, served seven aces and improved to 14-0 in the number of sets won during this year’s Asian Swing, stretching her winning streak to seven matches.
Commenting on her upcoming match with Andreescu, the 21-year-old Osaka said:
I was watching her play Toronto when I was there. It’s pretty obvious she is an amazing player. I don’t know. I feel like she’s doing better than I was last year, so it’s all cool. I have to learn from her, too.
Fifth seed Bianca Andreescu easily defeated American qualifier Jennifer Brady 6-1 6-3 in 67 minutes and is now on a 17-match winning streak that includes her amazing home title run at the Rogers Cup and maiden Grand Slam title at the US Open. The Canadian has not lost a completed match since the beginning of March in Acapulco.
The 19-year-old Andreescu had this to say about her upcoming opponent:
She’s doing incredible, especially at such a young age as well. It’s nice to play another player that’s close to my age. We’re kind of like the NextGen. I’m really excited. I know it’s not going to be easy at all.
While Osaka vs. Andreescu showdown is in Friday’s China Open night session, quarterfinal schedule will open with a clash between top seed Ashleigh Barty and seventh seed Petra Kvitova, followed by third seed Elina Svitolina vs. eighth seed Kiki Bertens and then by Daria Kasatkina vs. 16th-seeded defending champion Caroline Wozniacki.
