Naomi Osaka passes Coco Gauff challenge in Cincinnati

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In their first meeting outside of Grand Slams, Naomi Osaka recovered from a set down to defeat Coco Gauff 4-6 6-3 6-4 in her opener at the Western & Southern Open.

Naomi Osaka stepped on the court wearing a face mask that features the flag of Haiti.

The American world No.24 Gauff had a 100% break point conversion rate in the first set (2/2), even though last year’s finalist Osaka won staggering 91.7% points on her first serve. The problem was that only 48% of the Japanese’s first serves got in and she won just 46.2% of points on her second serve.

The 17-year-old Gauff, the youngest player to start the main draw this week, earned an early break in the second set, but Osaka broke back right away and then once more en route to closing out the set, 6-3.

Wearing the Nike Fall Victory Sleeveless Polo and the Nike Fall Advantage Pleat Skirt, Osaka went up a break early in the third set and, as the WTA Insider reports, won 18 straight points in her own service games to complete the comeback.

In the round of 16, the second-seeded Osaka will face Jil Teichmann, as the Swiss wildcard defeated fellow wildcard Bernarda Pera of the United States, 6-1 6-4. (photos: Jimmie48)

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