Australian Open 2020 news – Coco Gauff fights back to set up Naomi Osaka meeting

ByEurosport

Updated 22/01/2020 at 07:09 GMT

Coco Gauff recovered from a set down to beat Sorana Cirstea and book a third-round meeting with defending Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka.

Coco Gauff of the United States celebrates after winning match point during her Women's Singles second round match against Sorana Cirstea of Romania on day three of the 2020 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 22, 2020

Image credit: Getty Images

The 15-year-old American won 4-6 6-3 7-5 to reach the third round in her first outing at Melbourne Park.

Highlights from Gauff's gutsy win against Cirstea

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On the showdown with Osaka, Gauff said: "I played her at US Open so I know what to expect. I’m excited for a good match, I think she’s a great competitor on and off the court."

Osaka powered past Gauff 6-3 6-0 in their third-round meeting at the US Open, but will know she faces an opponent maturing with every Grand Slam experience.

On Melbourne Arena, Gauff trailed world no 74 Cirstea 3-0 in the final set, but bounced back to win seven of the next nine games and seal the match.

'The heart of a champion!' Melbourne Arena erupts after Gauff battles to win

Gauff bowled over by support

“Shout out to the cheering squad over there. It’s amazing, honestly I didn’t think I would get so much support in Australia," Gauff added.

You really made me believe, it’s really emotional because I never thought this would happen to me, so many people supporting me so thank you.

Gauff brought to tears by crowd support - 'I never thought this would happen!'

Asked why she thinks she gets so much support, Gauff said: “I honestly don’t know but I think they kinda like me so I hope they can keep that going.”

And her fighting spirit? “Just my will to win and especially the crowd," she added. "You cheered me back. My parents always told me I can come back no matter what the score is. I think that showed today.”

Osaka overcomes tantrum to beat Zheng

Defending champion Naomi Osaka overcame a tantrum and progressed to the third round after beating China's Saisai Zheng in straight sets 6-2, 6-4 on Margaret Court Arena.

In a match that lasted one hour and 20 minutes, Osaka took the first set after securing a crucial break in the sixth game to go 4-2 up before doing the same again at 5-2.

Osaka slams then kicks racket after being broken

Zheng fought back in the second and broke the Osaka serve in games 3 and 5.

Nevertheless the No. 3 seed regained her composure by winning four games in a row at 4-2 down as the outgunned Zheng double-faulted on match point.

Highlights of a fired-up Osaka seeing off Zheng

'I was walking a fine line'

The match had echoes of Osaka's tempestuous third-round win over Hsieh Su-wei at the same venue last year when Osaka was driven to distraction by her opponent's unorthodox game of drop-shots and slices.

Osaka ultimately came back from a set down to overhaul Hsieh and went on to claim her second Grand Slam title with another stormy victory over Petra Kvitova.

"Yeah, it's really tough, because you start thinking she's not hitting winners," said Osaka, who was desperate to avoid a third set against the 42nd-ranked Zheng.

"You're the one making all the errors. And you try to tell yourself not to make that many errors, but you have to go for those balls.

So it's like you're walking a very fine line between being very aggressive or attempting to push but that's her game. So it's very hard.

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