Coco Gauff vs Naomi Osaka – Breakdown and Prediction

Coco Gauff vs Naomi Osaka: WTA Beijing – Round of 16

American Coco Gauff will take on Naomi Osaka in the round of 16 of the WTA Beijing.

Coco Gauff Profile

Coco Gauff is currently sixth in the WTA rankings while her career high was No. 2. The American is 43-15 for the season and 24-8 on hard surface.

Gauff is coming off a 7-5, 6-2 win over Katie Boulter in the third round after defeating Clara Burel 7-5, 6-3 in the second one.

Gauff won the title in Auckland earlier this season.

Last year in Beijing she lost in the semifinal to Iga Swiatek.

Naomi Osaka Profile

Former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka is currently 73rd in the rankings. The Japanese is 22-17 for the season and 13-9 on hard surface.

Osaka is coming off a 6-3, 6-2 win over Katie Volynets in the third round after going past Yulia Putintseva and Lucia Bronzetti in the previous two.

Osaka’s best results this season were the quarterfinals in Doha and Hertogenbosh.

This is her first appearance in Beijing after she won the tournament in 2019.

Head-to-Head Tied 2-2

Gauff vs Osaka 6-4, 6-4 (2022 WTA San Jose, round of 16)
Osaka vs Gauff 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 (2021 WTA Cincinnati second round)
Gauff vs Osaka 6-3, 6-4 (2020 Australian Open, third round)
Osaka vs Gauff 6-3, 6-0 (2019 Us Open, third round)

Prediction and Conclusion

Former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka is still trying to get back among the elite players. There is no doubt that she still possesses the quality to be there, but the lack of consistency and injuries are taking their toll. There is no better place for her to make a significant result than when playing in Asia, and she can be a dangerous opponent to Coco Gauff. The American teenager has dropped from second place in the rankings after losing points at the US Open. She has been playing well in China this week and, given the odds, is a major favorite in this match. Still, Osaka is ready to go and will win at least a set in this one.