Australian Open 2020: Barty breezes through as Osaka, Williams are stunned
Coco Gauff claimed another famous scalp in defending champion Naomi Osaka, as Serena Williams also suffered a shock defeat.
World number one Ashleigh Barty made serene progress to the fourth round of the Australian Open as Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams suffered shock exits.
Coco Gauff claimed another famous scalp in the form of defending champion Osaka to join Williams’ conqueror Qiang Wang in the next round.
In a mixed day for the American contingent, Alison Riske and Sofia Kenin also went through, but Madison Keys was knocked out in straight sets.
Petra Kvitova was in commanding form as she progressed, while Caroline Wozniacki saw her career come to an end with defeat.
Gracious in defeat @naomiosaka | #AO2020 | #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/lJLQmJK6M5
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 24, 2020
OSAKA DEFENCE ENDS AS SERENA WAIT GOES ON
Gauff got revenge for a rout at the hands of Osaka at the US Open last year to claim the biggest win of her fledgling career, seeing off the number three seed 6-3 6-4.
Beaten 6-3 6-0 in just 65 minutes at Flushing Meadows, 15-year-old Gauff made the most of 30 unforced errors from her opponent to set up a meeting with compatriot Kenin, who defeated Shuai Zhang 7-5 7-6 (9-7).
Williams’ wait for a 24th grand slam singles title goes on, the American beaten in 6-4 6-7 (2-7) 7-5 by Wang in a gripping encounter.
The 38-year-old, who hit 56 unforced errors to Wang’s 20, confessed afterwards: “I just made far too many errors to be a professional athlete today.”
The moment of a LIFETIME!
Qiang Wang puts on an absolute masterclass in the match of the tournament to shock Serena Williams 6-4 6-7(2) 7-5 and advance to a first career #AusOpen round of 16.#AO2020 pic.twitter.com/gnGkAMaU8X
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 24, 2020
OMINOUS SIGNS FROM BARTY AND KVITOVA
There were no such concerns for Barty, who dispatched Elena Rybakina 6-3 6-2 in 78 minutes.
The home favourite will face Riske in the fourth round, the American outlasting Julia Goerges 1-6 7-6 (7-4) 6-2.
Last year’s runner-up Petra Kvitova progressed in similarly imperious fashion, seeing off Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-1 6-2.
Kvitova, who is yet to drop a set at this year’s event, will now face Maria Sakkari after her impressive 6-4 6-4 defeat of Keys.
TEARFUL WOZNIACKI BOWS OUT
Former world number one Wozniacki saw her career come to an end with a three-set defeat to Ons Jabeur.
The 2018 champion lost 7-5 3-6 7-5 to the Tunisian, who will play a fourth-round match at a major for the first time against Wang.
An emotional Wozniacki, who fought back from 3-0 down in the decider but was decisively broken in the 11th game, said afterwards: “I want to be out there fighting. I fought like my life depended on it.”
Wow what a ride it’s been! From a little girl with a big dream, to this moment, standing on the court today living out my tennis dream one last time, in front of the world. It has been everything I could ever have hoped for!
The farewell I got today was absolutely incredible! pic.twitter.com/90xK8osaCh— Caroline Wozniacki (@CaroWozniacki) January 24, 2020
