It has been a long while since fans have been waiting for a potential showdown between Naomi Osaka and Coco Gauff. The Japanese tennis star, who made a comeback in Brisbane after becoming a mother, is seeking momentum in the current scene. After several failed attempts to secure an evident spot in events, the Madrid Open brings another opportunity for her.
Naomi Osaka’s run for the title in Madrid is surely going to be tougher than that of the rising American star Coco Gauff. The Japanese star, who had to keep herself out of the scene because of her pregnancy, lost her ranking points to a notable extent. However, despite making up her mind to be back even after going through the complications of becoming a mother, the qualifiers stand to be a big hurdle for her.
The Madrid Open, which is scheduled to begin in just a few hours, recently released its draw. According to the table, fans could possibly witness a gripping showdown between Osaka and Coco Gauff. This update reminds fans of a coincidental situation that was set to happen in Miami. While both the players faced early exit, fans had to hold their thoughts back.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
The WTA draw 🙌🏻
👉🏻 https://t.co/hNacmvOA74#MMOPEN pic.twitter.com/IzhIdMuW7M
— #MMOPEN (@MutuaMadridOpen) April 21, 2024
The possible matchup between the Japanese tennis star and the US Open champion stands to be conditional. While Gauff is fortunate enough to skip the initial matches because of being seeded, Osaka will have to earn a position against her, by paving her way through the qualifiers. As both the players gear up for the tournament, fans once again experience a surge in their expectations.
Emma Raducanu to face a formidable R1 challenge
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Among the ones who are currently looking to gain momentum in the tennis scene, Emma Raducanu also shares the club with Naomi Osaka. The Briton, who recently lost her run for the Stuttgart Open title against Iga Swiatek, is matched up against none other than the renowned veteran Karolina Pliskova.
Star matches in R1 of the @WTA draw at the 2024 #MMOPEN
▪️Raducanu vs Pliskova
▪️Martic vs Bucsa
▪️Towsend vs Andreeva
▪️Kenin vs SchmiedlovaWhich is your favourite? pic.twitter.com/KfBBhap5XE
— #MMOPEN (@MutuaMadridOpen) April 21, 2024
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Analyzing the challenge that lies ahead of Raducanu, the tennis star will have to face Pliskova’s dominance in her inaugural showdown. Pliskova, who is known to have a big serve, would surely be hard to surpass as Madrid’s high-altitude clay demands this skill. Along with that, the former world no.1’s performance during the initial months of the season proved that she still has a firm grip over the game.
With these and several other similar competitive angles lying ahead, this year’s event in Madrid is sure to serve fans with immense levels of entertainment and action.