The second-round meeting between Coco Gauff and Naomi Osaka at the Silicon Valley Classic on Thursday didn’t disappoint. The sixth-seeded Gauff won the match with an easy-looking, 6-4, 6-4 score-line but was put through the paces in the latter stages of the match and eventually needed an hour and 28 minutes to wrap up the win.
Gauff won 85% of her first-serve points to Osaka’s 69%. She finished the match with seven more winners than her opponent’s 12. Gauff conceded the lone break point she faced but secured three breaks on the former world no.
1’s serve. Post-match, sharing her thoughts Gauff said, “I think I improved in all aspects and today showed it. I knew playing Naomi was going to be tough. I think she has one of the best baseline games in the game.
When I play her, I know that if she does win the match that’s where she’s going to get me, in those baseline rallies. I think today I really held my ground and winning a lot more of those rallies than she was. That just shows how much I’m improving.
The last three weeks, so many hours on the court and I’m glad it’s coming together”. In the quarter-finals, Gauff will play second seed Paula Badosa.
Silicon Valley Classic: Americans tumble out
Gauff’s compatriot, Shelby Rogers, meanwhile, produced the biggest upset of the day.
Rogers defeated the no. 1 seed in the draw, Maria Sakkari in their round-of-16 match, 6-1, 6-3 in an hour and 12 minutes. Rogers won 76% points off her first serves to Sakkari’s 52%. She also saved all three break points she faced while converting four of the 10 break points that came her way on the Greek’s serve.
A derby against fellow American Amanda Anisimova is next on the cards for Rogers. Ninth seed Veronika Kudermetova advanced to the quarter-finals with a 6-2, 7-5 win over Claire Liu. Kudermetova needed an hour and 43 minutes to finish the proceedings.
She’ll play Ons Jabeur for a chance to reach the semi-finals. Lastly, fourth seed Aryna Sabalenka also took her place in the quarter-finals of the Silicon Valley Classic after surviving over a two-hour battle against American Caroline Dolehide.
Sabalenka dropped the opening set but bounced back to finish the match, 5-7, 6-1, 7-5. Seventh seed Daria Kasatkina will be her next rival. Photo Credit: WTA Twitter
