MATCH REPORT | 2024 China Open: Naomi Osaka sets up exciting Coco Gauff clash downing Katie Volynets in Beijing

Naomi Osaka will face off against Coco Gauff in the Last 16 of the 2024 China Open in Beijing after easing past Katie Volynets on Monday morning 6-3, 6-2.

Osaka perhaps wasn't expected to face off against Gauff given her run-in and also lack of form at times during her comeback. But while that is the case, she has shown a new fire this week under new coach Patrick Mouratoglou.

She saw off Yulia Putintseva last round in three sets after easing through Lucia Bronzetti in the first round. It was more of the latter against a tough opponent on the rise in Volynets. Winning in just over an hour, Osaka took a pivotal break in each of the sets.

She went into a 2-0 lead early on against the American before holding serve from there for 3-0 and was barely troubled on her own serve from there on in a dominant display. The second set was more comfortable as despite missing break chances to begin, she rallied back to break twice in a row for 4-1 and then held for 5-1. She then went one away from the match and despite missing match point at 5-1, she came back to seal it 6-2.

She likely returns towards the top 50 too as a result of this run which is significant and helps her towards not having to go through qualifying or use wildcards for tournaments. Elsewhere, Madison Keys saw off Beatriz Haddad Maia 6-3, 6-3. While Peyton Stearns had a left foot issue which forced her to retire. Anna Kalinskaya after dropping the first set was up 3-1 in the decider before the American called it a day after a medical time-out.

Both move through. Aryna Sabalenka is currently a set up on Ashlyn Krueger. While Karolina Muchova has just begun against Jaqueline Cristian.