Naomi Osaka & Coco Gauff Facing Off in China Open

Few tennis players on the WTA Tour have more compelling stories than Naomi Osaka and Coco Gauff. Now, they are scheduled to play each other in the Round of 16 at the China Open on Tuesday morning.
Since the draw was first announced, eager tennis fans had this potential matchup circled on their calendars. Luckily for those fans, Osaka defeated Katie Volynets in straight sets on Monday. Meanwhile, Gauff defeated Katie Boulter on Sunday.
#ChinaOpen 2019 champion @naomiosaka defeats Katie Volynets 6-3, 6-2 to advance to the 4th round for the first time since she last played here 5 years ago.
— China Open (@ChinaOpen) September 30, 2024
Osaka will next meet No. 4 seed Coco Gauff and this will be their 5th meeting (tied 2-2).#2024ChinaOpen #AllForPassion pic.twitter.com/G6JTexZaNq
Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, has made her return to the court this year after missing time due to injuries and then giving birth to her first child.
Gauff won her first Grand Slam title last September at the US Open and reached her career-high World No. 2 ranking earlier this year. However, she has struggled throughout the summer and struggled to regain her form.
Class. Act. 👏
— espnW (@espnW) September 1, 2019
After defeating Coco Gauff in straight sets, Naomi Osaka asked the 15-year-old to join her for the encore interview. pic.twitter.com/kcat7fRggr
Both Osaka and Gauff have fired and hired new coaches this month and have looked strong since shaking up their coaching staff.
The two players have played each other four times, with a record of 2-2. Gauff won their last meeting in 2022 and appeared to be a challenge from a younger generation of talented players.
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Pat Benson covers professional tennis for Serve on Sports Illustrated, reporting on ATP and WTA events worldwide. From Challenger tournaments to Grand Slams, he brings readers in-depth coverage, daily recaps, and exclusive interviews with some of the biggest names in the sport. With a decade of experience in sports journalism, Pat is recognized as a trusted voice in tennis media. You can contact him at 1989patbenson@gmail.com.
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