Aiming to secure her fourth consecutive match win for the first time since returning from maternity leave, Naomi Osaka struggled throughout her fourth-round match against Coco Gauff at the China Open and was forced to retire due to a lower back injury with the match tied at one set apiece.
Osaka had started strong, taking the opening set 6-3 and leading by a break in the second. However, the American fourth seed fought back, winning three consecutive games from 4-3 down to claim the second set 6-4. Unfortunately, there was no deciding set, as Osaka’s injury worsened, prompting her to retire from the match. In a touching moment of sportsmanship, Gauff helped carry Osaka’s bag off the court, showing her respect and concern for her opponent.
“I wish Naomi a speedy recovery. Nobody wants to win a match like this, especially at one set all,” Gauff said after the match, reflecting on the unfortunate conclusion.
Osaka, the 2019 China Open champion, had shown signs of discomfort early on, calling for the physio in the first set but pushing through. Gauff later mentioned, “I wasn’t sure if it was her hip or back, I just knew that towards the end she could barely jump on her serve. So I knew that it was something that, in the moment, was probably bad but hopefully it’s something that’s not a long-term thing.”
This match marked the fifth meeting between the two players, with Gauff now leading their head-to-head rivalry 3-2, all of which have been played on hard courts.
Gauff, who was a semifinalist in last year’s China Open, will now face Ukrainian qualifier Yuliia Starodubtseva for a spot in the semifinals. This is Gauff’s first tournament since adding coach Matt Daly to her team, and she has been focusing on improving her serve and baseline aggression.
