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Agence France-Presse

Four-time grand slam champion Naomi Osaka set up a China Open last-16 clash with Coco Gauff on Monday while top seed Aryna Sabalenka also marched on in ruthless fashion.
Osaka defeated 60th-ranked American Katie Volynets 6-3, 6-2 and faces Gauff in a showdown of former US Open champions in Beijing.
World No 2 Sabalenka swatted aside Ashlyn Krueger 6-2, 6-2 and plays another American in 24th-ranked Madison Keys.
Former world No 1 Osaka is playing her first tournament under Patrick Mouratoglou, the Frenchman best known for being the long-time former coach of Serena Williams.
The 26-year-old Japanese has struggled for consistency and form since returning to tennis in January after the birth of her daughter Shai, in July last year, and is ranked 73rd in the world.

She lost in the second round of the recent US Open and her best results after becoming a parent have been two quarter-final appearances.
But in a commanding performance against Volynets, Osaka showed glimpses of the talent that has brought her seven WTA titles including the China Open in 2019, the same year she triumphed at the Australian Open for the first time.
She also won the title in Melbourne in 2021 and is a two-time US Open champion.
The 2023 New York champion Gauff booked her place in the last 16 with a 7-5, 6-2 victory over Britain’s Katie Boulter on Sunday.
The 20-year-old American Gauff is seeded fourth.
She and Osaka have played four times previously, each winning twice. Their last meeting was in 2022 at San Jose when Gauff prevailed 6-4, 6-4.
Reigning US Open champion Sabalenka was error prone in winning her opening match in Beijing against Thai qualifier Mananchaya Sawangkaew in straight sets.
But the Belarusian was right on it from the start against 68th-ranked Krueger, racing into a 4-1 lead in the first set.

The 26-year-old Sabalenka wobbled a little when serving for the set at 5-2, squandering set point and then facing break point.
But Sabalenka kept her cool, saving the break point and then wrapping up the set after 30 minutes when Krueger found her powerful forehand too hot to handle on a second set point.
Neither player could hold serve at the beginning of the second set before Sabalenka took a stranglehold at 4-1.
Sabalenka will take some stopping. Fourteen of her 16 titles have come on hard courts and only Iga Swiatek has won more matches on tour this season.
Top-ranked Swiatek is not in Beijing because of “personal matters”.


China’s Zheng Qinwen to skip United Cup, needs ‘extra rest’ ahead of Australian Open

Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open wins tournament of the year award in WTA 250 category

Simona Halep questions handling of her doping case after Iga Swiatek’s one-month ban

Chinese Olympic champ Zheng Qinwen to tackle Australian Open without 2024 coach Pere Riba

WTA (Women's Tennis Association)

China Open: Naomi Osaka sets up Coco Gauff clash in Beijing as Aryna Sabalenka marches on

Naomi Osaka of Japan beat 60th-ranked American Katie Volynets and will now face fellow former US Open winner Gauff in a round of 16 clash. Photo: AP

Fourth seed Coco Gauff of the US booked her place in the last 16 with a win over Britain’s Katie Boulter. Photo: AFP

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus reacts during play against the US’ Ashlyn Krueger in Beijing on Monday. Photo: AP

China Open: US Open tennis champion Aryna Sabalenka aims to cap off year with No 1 ranking

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus training in Beijing for the China Open, which starts on Wednesday. Photo: Xinhua

Aryna Sabalenka will be playing for the first time since winning the US Open. Photo: Mike Frey-Imagn Images

China Open: Zhang Shuai stuns sixth seed Emma Navarro in Beijing with straight-sets win

Zhang Shuai has beaten sixth seed Emma Navarro in the second round of the China Open in Beijing. Photo: Xinhua

China Open: Olympic champ Zheng Qinwen to channel energy of home fans in title bid

Zheng Qinwen says she is looking forward to playing in front of crowds where “95 per cent” of the supporters will be behind her. Photo: Xinhua

Zheng Qinwen signs autographs for supporters after a China Open training session in Beijing. Photo: Xinhua

World No 8 Emma Navarro to play WTA 125 event in Hong Kong, in ‘massive coup’ for city

Emma Navarro hits a return during her women’s singles second round match against Zhang Shuai during the China Open. Photo: Xinhua

China’s Wang Xinyu is expected to play in the Prudential Hong Kong Open. Photo: Xinhua

Former world No 1 Halep to begin tennis comeback at WTA 125 tournament in Hong Kong

Simona Halep is making her return to competitive tennis in Hong Kong. Photo: EPA-EFE

Simona Halep speaks to the media after a hearing for a doping case at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland. Photo: Reuters

Sport

Tennis

Former China Open winner Osaka showed glimpses of her past form in round-of-32 win as world No 2 Sabalenka will face the US’ Madison Keys


Former China Open winner Osaka showed glimpses of her past form in round-of-32 win as world No 2 Sabalenka will face the US’ Madison Keys.


Naomi Osaka

Zheng Qinwen