Naomi Osaka Fights Back Against Coco Gauff to Earn a Spot at Cincinnati Open 2021 Round 3

Centre Court at the Cincinnati Open saw World No. 2 Naomi Osaka face American teenager Coco Gauff. In the pick of the second round clashes today, they faced each other for a spot in the third round of the tournament, while looking to build much needed momentum ahead of the US Open.

Prior to today, Osaka and Gauff faced off twice. While Osaka won their match in the 2019 US Open, Gauff won their rematch in the 2020 Australian Open. Both matches took place in the Round of 32, and both finished in straight sets.

In their third match against each other, Osaka won an intense battle with the scoreline reading 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Naomi Osaka vs Coco Gauff: Set 1

Before the Cincinnati Open, Osaka announced she would donate all her prize money to relief efforts in Haiti after the Caribbean country suffered a devastating earthquake. Today, she entered Centre Court with a mask having the Haiti flag on it. This gestured garnered praise from fans across the world.

Tennis star @naomiosaka enters the arena wearing a face ask with the Haitian flag. She is donating her @CincyTennis prize money to their hurricane relief efforts #Osaka #WTACincinnati #tennis #Haiti pic.twitter.com/gwM94Ch0nO

— Gstaad Tennis (@GstaadTennis) August 18, 2021

Osaka started the match by serving first. She held her service game well, scoring her first ace of the match to take a 1-0 lead. Although she had two break points in the second game, Gauff saved them both with excellent strokes to tie the set at 1-1.

The next few games saw both players hold their serve well. However, the World No. 2 gifted Gauff a break in the ninth game. While the American worked well to go up 40-15, Osaka sent a forehand wide at the net. This rare unforced error on the Japanese star’s part saw her go behind 4-5.

Coco Gauff weathers the early pressure from Naomi Osaka and takes advantage as Osaka begins to struggle with her range.

Gauff serves out the opening set 6-4.#CincyTennis

— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) August 18, 2021

The 17-year-old wasted little time in the very next game. Serving for the set, she put in excellent serves to clinch the set 6-4.

Osaka vs Gauff: Set 2

Just like the first set, Osaka served the first game in the second set. While the break came late in the first set, it came early in the second set. And once again, Gauff broke Osaka’s serve after the World No. 2 sent another forehand shot outside the court.

Aug 18, 2021; Mason, OH, USA; Naomi Osaka (JPN) reacts after returning a shot against Cori Gauff (USA) during the Western and Southern Open tennis tournament at Lindner Family Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

Despite struggling with her range, Osaka broke Gauff’s serve in the very next game, to tie the set 2-2. In the eighth game, the pressure seemed to catch up to the teenager as she dropped her serve to go 5-3 behind. In the ninth game, Gauff produced a shot which surprised everyone, including the World No. 2.

Odd point here in ⁦@CincyTennis⁩ . Naomi Osaka thought it was landing out and misjudged it, allowing Coco Gauff to fight off set point. ⁦@naomiosaka⁩ won the 2nd set 2 points later. Going to a 3rd. ⁦@bgtennisnation⁩ pic.twitter.com/fvRJhnz7WT

— Troy Howell (@teeroyhowell) August 18, 2021

Osaka eventually closed out the set 6-3 by holding her serve, forcing a deciding third set.

Heading into a decider!

@naomiosaka strikes back and forces a decider against Gauff! #CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/AvHW82RJHA

— wta (@WTA) August 18, 2021

Osaka vs Gauff: Set 3

Gauff served the first game of the set after a short delay due to rain. However, Osaka took charge and raced to a 2-0 lead. Despite the American’s best efforts, Osaka found her confidence at the right time to close the set 6-4, and seal her place in the third round.

(2) Naomi Osaka drops the first set but recovers and comes all the way back to beat Coco Gauff 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Osaka, playing in her first WTA main draw since withdrawing from the French Open in June, is through to the round of 16 in Cincinnati #cincytennis

— Adam Baum (@AdamJBaum) August 18, 2021

She will face Swiss wildcard Jil Teichmann in the third round, with a potential showdown against Olympic gold medalist Belinda Bencic beckoning.

READ MORE: How Much Money Does Naomi Osaka Have?

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