Coco Gauff sets up mouthwatering Naomi Osaka clash at San Jose: ‘She’s a champion, on and off the court’

Coco Gauff produced a clinical display against Anhelina Kalinina to reach the second round of the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic where she will face former world No 1 Naomi Osaka.
World No 11 Gauff, in action for the first time since losing in the third round at Wimbledon, required just 55 minutes to brush aside Kalinina 6-1, 6-0 to ensure a blockbuster showdown with Osaka at the WTA 500 hard-court tournament.
Buckle up folks 😮@CocoGauff | #MubadalaSVC pic.twitter.com/dzqSLEhwSi
— wta (@WTA) August 3, 2022
The sixth seed broke in game two as it took the Ukrainian a while to settle down. After Kalinina finally got on the scoreboard in game four, she then picked up her game as she threatened to break in game five.
However, her joy was short-lived as the 18-year-old Gauff broke for a second time in game six and then served it out. It was one-way traffic in the second set as the American broke in games one, five and six.
“Today’s match was great,” the French Open runner-up, who is looking to reach the top 10 in the WTA Rankings for the first time with a good run in San Jose, said. “I was glad to find out I was playing the night match. I love night sessions … This crowd was pretty energetic. It’s a small stadium, but the sound is really loud, so I enjoyed it.”
Gauff knows a tougher challenge awaits in the second round as she faces four-time Grand Slam winner Osaka, who edged Zheng Qinwen 6-4, 3-6, 6-1.
“I played her a lot of times and she’s obviously going to be a tough opponent,” the teenager is quoted as saying by WTA Tour.
“Either way, win or lose, I think that the match is going to be great. She’s such a champion, on and off the court, so I guess those are the type of people that you want to play, and I look forward to playing those matches.”
The duo have met three times with Osaka edging their head-to-head 2-1. The Japanese player won their 2019 US Open encounter 6-3, 6-0 before the American hit back with a 6-3, 6-4 win at the 2020 Australian Open. Osaka won their most recent match at the Western & Southern Open last year as she secured come-from-behind 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory.
Osaka, though, has struggled with an Achilles injury in recent months and she is slightly undercooked as her match against Zheng was her first since she lost in the first round of the French Open in mid-May.
Latest
-
Tennis News
Tennis legend makes big Ben Shelton prediction as American stars at Laver Cup
A tennis legend has hailed the game of rising star Ben Shelton and made a big prediction about the 20-year-old American.
-
Tennis News
Top coach suggests Rafael Nadal will ‘probably stop’ comeback bid if reality dawns
“There is no reason to think that he will not be the favourite for Roland Garros.”
-
Tennis News
Two huge names could be contenders to take over Laver Cup captaincy roles
Could new captain’s spice up the Laver Cup?
-
Tennis News
Andy Murray makes Novak Djokovic consistency claim in Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal comparison
Andy Murray has discussed the consistency of his ‘Big Four’ rivals.
-
Tennis News
Carlos Alcaraz backed by esteemed coach in bold 2024 Grand Slam claim
A respected tennis coach believes losing in the semi-finals of the 2023 US Open will be “the best thing ever” for Carlos Alcaraz.
-
Tennis News
End of the road for the Stefanos Tsitsipas and Paula Badosa love story?
Tsitsipas and Badosa became social media sensations when they confirmed their romance, but their love story may be over.
-
Tennis News
‘Novak Djokovic is the perfect athlete for tennis – his body was more ready to last than Rafael Nadal’
“I said that he will probably be the record holder of number of Grand Slams when he had 12 or 13.”
-
Tennis News
John McEnroe names player who could make next Laver Cup a ‘different story’
John McEnroe admits next year’s Laver Cup could be a “different story” after Team World’s crushing victory.
-
Tennis News
Roger Federer reveals his dream Laver Cup doubles pairing for 2024
Federer wants to see Djokovic and Alcaraz play on the same Team Europe in Berlin next year.
-
Tennis News
Muted end to a flat Laver Cup as next year’s host city is revealed
Team World beat Team Europe 13-2 to win a one-sided Laver Cup.