Issued on: 09/30/2024 – 07:41Changed: 09/30/2024 – 08:32

2 mins

Osaka defeated 60th-ranked American Katie Volynets 6:3, 6:2 and will face Gauff in a showdown of former US Open champions in Beijing.

World number two Sabalenka defeated Ashlyn Krueger 6-2, 6-2 and will play another American at No. 24 Madison Keys.

Former world No. 1 Osaka is playing her first tournament under Patrick Mouratoglou, the Frenchman best known as Serena Williams’ longtime former coach.

The 26-year-old Japanese has struggled for consistency and form since returning to tennis in January following the birth of her daughter Shai in July last year and is ranked 73rd in the world.

She recently lost in the second round of the US Open and her best results since birth were two quarterfinal 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 winner.

New York’s 2023 champion Gauff secured her place in the round of 16 with a 7-5, 6-2 win over Britain’s Katie Boulter on Sunday.

The 20-year-old American Gauff is ranked fourth.

She and Osaka have played four times before, winning twice each. Their last meeting took place in San Jose in 2022, when Gauff won 6-4, 6-4.

Reigning US Open champion Sabalenka was error-prone as she won her opening match in Beijing against Thai qualifier Mananchaya Sawangkaew in straight sets.

But the Belarusian was in good form from the start against Krueger, who was ranked 68th, and took a 4-1 lead in the first set.

The 26-year-old Sabalenka wobbled a little while serving for the set at 5-2, missed the set point and then faced break point.

But Sabalenka held her nerve, saved the break point and wrapped up the set after 30 minutes when Krueger found her powerful forehand was too hot to handle a second set point.

Neither player could hold serve at the start of the second set before Sabalenka went into a stranglehold at 4-1.

Sabalenka will have to stop a lot. Fourteen of her 16 titles have been won on hard courts and only Iga Swiatek has won more matches on tour this season.

Leader Swiatek is not in Beijing for “personal reasons”.

© 2024 AFP