Fourth seed Coco Gauff is through to the quarter-finals of the China Open after Japan’s Naomi Osaka was forced to retire injured in their last-16 match.
The match was level at one set all when Osaka, who appeared to be struggling throughout, had to withdraw because of a lower back injury.
“It was a good match up to this point,” Gauff said. “I wish Naomi a speedy recovery. Nobody wants to win a match like this, especially at one set all.”
Four-time Grand Slam champion Osaka had to call for the physio during the first set but battled through, breaking Gauff for a third time before serving out to take it 6-3.
But American Gauff, who won her first major at last year’s US Open, hit back and broke at the first opportunity in the second.
Osaka responded immediately and even earned a break advantage, only for Gauff to come storming back and break twice in winning three straight games to secure a fiercely contested set 6-4.
There was to be no deciding set as Osaka had to retire but there was a moment of great sportsmanship at the end as Gauff carried her ailing opponent’s bag off court for her.
Gauff will face Ukraine’s Yulia Starodubtsewa in the last eight.
