In a dramatic match under the lights at the 2024 China Open, Coco Gauff advanced to the quarterfinals after Naomi Osaka was forced to retire due to a back injury. Osaka, making her return after maternity leave, made a strong start, taking the first set 6-3 and breaking Gauff early in the second set. However, after struggling with injury throughout the match, Osaka retired with the score tied at 3-6, 6-4.
Gauff, despite being pushed to her limits, expressed sympathy for Osaka’s situation. “It was a good match up to this point,” Gauff said. “I wish Naomi a speedy recovery. Nobody wants to win a match like this, especially at one set all. Overall, I tried my best. It wasn’t my best tennis.”
Osaka, who partnered with new coach Patrick Mouratoglou, explained her injury on social media. “I locked my back up during practice earlier and honestly wasn’t sure if I could even play, but I just wanted to try,” she said.
Gauff, meanwhile, moves on to face Ukrainian qualifier Yuliia Starodubtseva in the quarterfinals, continuing her China Open campaign.
Gauff in Beijing, ranking, and results in 2024
WWLWWLWWWW At the moment ranked no.6, Coco has managed to achieve a 44-15 win-loss record in 2024. Gauff is currently playing in Beijing where she overcame the world no.56 Clara Burel 7-5 6-3, the world no.34 Katie Boulter 7-5 6-2 and the world no.73 Naomi Osaka 3-6 6-4 ret..
Coco Gauff will fight against the world no.209 Sinja Kraus in the . They have never competed against each other till now in top competitions.
The American has won 1 title in 2024 in Auckland.
Gauff won 7 titles in her career: 5 on hard courts, 1 on clay courts and 1 on indoor courts. (See the list of her titles)
Naomi Osaka in 2024
LWWWLWLWLW Ranked world no.73, the Japanese played her last match on the 1st of October when she had to retire when playing against world no.6 Cori Gauff in the 4th round and the scoreline was 3-6 6-4 .
Until now, during this year Naomi has achieved an overall 22-18 win-loss record.
Naomi Osaka will fight against the world no.719 Anna Danilina in the . They have never competed against each other until now in top competitions.
The Japanese won 7 titles in her career: all of them conquered on hard courts. (See the list of her titles)
Coco Gauff and Naomi Osaka faced off 5 times. Their current record is 3-2 for Gauff. Previously, the last time they played, Coco Gauff won 3-6 6-4 ret. in the 4th round in Beijing (China Open) on the 1st of October 2024.
Here are the highlights.
Coco Gauff and Naomi Osaka |
| Embed from Getty Images |
