Naomi Osaka sets up Coco Gauff clash in Beijing while Aryna Sabalenka marches on

Four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka (26) has advanced to the last 16 of the China Open, where she will face Coco Gauff (20) on Monday. Meanwhile, top seed Aryna Sabalenka (26) continued her dominant performance in the tournament.

Osaka secured her place by defeating American Katie Volynets, ranked 60th, with a score of 6-3, 6-2, setting up a match against Gauff, a fellow former US Open champion, in Beijing.

World number two Sabalenka easily overcame Ashlyn Krueger with a score of 6-2, 6-2 and will compete against another American, Madison Keys, who is ranked 24th.

Osaka, a former world number one, is participating in her first tournament under the guidance of Patrick Mouratoglou, the renowned French coach previously associated with Serena Williams.

Since returning to the sport in January after the birth of her daughter Shai in July of the previous year, the Japanese athlete has faced challenges in maintaining consistency and form, currently holding the 73rd position in the world rankings.

She experienced an early exit in the second round of the recent US Open, with her best performances post-motherhood being two quarter-final finishes.

However, in a strong display against Volynets, Osaka showcased flashes of the exceptional talent that has earned her seven WTA titles, including the China Open in 2019 and her first Australian Open title in the same year.

She also claimed the Melbourne title in 2021 and is a two-time US Open champion.

Coco Gauff, the reigning champion of the 2023 US Open, secured her spot in the last 16 with a 7-5, 6-2 victory over Britain's Katie Boulter on Sunday.

The 20-year-old American is seeded fourth in the tournament.

Osaka and Gauff have faced each other four times previously, with each player winning two matches. Their most recent encounter occurred in 2022 at San Jose, where Gauff emerged victorious with a score of 6-4, 6-4.

Defending US Open champion Sabalenka displayed some inconsistency in her opening match in Beijing, where she won against Thai qualifier Mananchaya Sawangkaew in straight sets.

SportsLigue