Naomi Osaka and Cori Gauff remain on collision course at Australian Open
- 2019 champion Osaka beat Saisai Zheng 6-2 6-4
- 15-year-old Gauff overcame Sorana Cirstea 4-6 6-3 7-5
Naomi Osaka and Cori Gauff, two of the most precocious talents tennis has had in many years, are on track to meet in the third round of the Australian Open on Friday. The defending champion will start favourite, having beaten the American teenager handily at Flushing Meadows six months ago, but will take nothing for granted.
They won in contrasting styles on Wednesday, Osaka having the easier time of it over two sets against the unseeded Saisai Zheng in an hour and 20 minutes on Margaret Court Arena, while Gauff, the youngest player in either draw at 15, had to dig deep to beat the seasoned Romanian Sorana Cirstea, 4-6 6-3 7-5, in a thriller that lasted just over two hours on the Melbourne Arena.