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Striving to achieve her fourth consecutive victory since returning from maternity leave, Naomi Osaka faced a tough challenge in her fourth-round match against Coco Gauff at the China Open. Unfortunately, Osaka was forced to retire due to a lower back injury when the match was tied at one set each.
Despite starting strong and winning the first set 6-3, Osaka saw her lead slip away in the second set as Gauff fought back and claimed it 6-4. Osaka’s injury worsened, leading to her retirement from the match. In a show of sportsmanship, Gauff assisted Osaka in carrying her bag off the court, displaying 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 expressed her sentiments after the match.
Osaka, the 2019 China Open champion, had shown signs of discomfort early on, seeking help from the physio in the first set but persevering. Gauff noted, “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 matches having been played on hard courts.
Gauff, a semifinalist in last year’s China Open, will now compete against Ukrainian qualifier Yuliia Starodubtseva for a chance to reach the semifinals. This tournament is Gauff’s first with coach Matt Daly on her team, focusing on improving her serve and baseline aggression.
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