Under the guidance of her new coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, Naomi Osaka has advanced to the fourth round of the 2024 China Open, where she will face Coco Gauff in a much-anticipated clash on Tuesday.
Osaka displayed dominant form in her latest match, defeating world No. 60 Katie Volynets 6-3 6-2. She won 82 percent of her first-service points and did not face a single break point throughout the contest. This victory also marked Osaka’s first win over an American opponent in four attempts since her return from maternity leave earlier this year in January.
Osaka’s journey at this year’s China Open has been impressive, with earlier wins against Lucia Bronzetti and Yulia Putintseva. Notably, this tournament marks her first return to Beijing since she claimed the China Open title in 2019. As the only former champion in this year’s main draw, Osaka boasts an exceptional 13-2 career win-loss record at the event.
Her upcoming match against Gauff will be their first encounter in over two years. The two Grand Slam champions have met four times previously, with their head-to-head record tied at 2-2. Their rivalry has seen them alternate victories, with Gauff winning their most recent match in San Jose in August 2022 by a 6-4 6-4 scoreline. As both players look to secure a spot in the quarterfinals, fans are eagerly awaiting another exciting chapter in their competitive history. (source: WTA)
