While it looked like the intensity of the tennis season might drop after the US Open, the Asian Swing lifted it. Time and again, we have witnessed some interesting matchups during this phase of the season, which is widely followed in the tennis world. One such matchup that is going to take place at the China Open is between Coco Gauff and Naomi Osaka. While Gauff is still very young, Osaka is on a bit of a resurgence after making a comeback earlier this year. As a result, fans can’t control their excitement to witness this thrilling battle.

The two will clash in the round of 16 match at the WTA 1000 tournament in Beijing. It was a much-awaited clash when the draw for the tournament was announced, given the fact the previous encounters between these two players were keenly fought. Interestingly, their head-to-head record stands at 2-2, with Coco Gauff winning their last meeting way back in 2022. Although Gauff is the favorite to win their tie this time around, Osaka is on a 9-match winning streak in Beijing and won the title the last time she played in 2019.

“Because we’re so young, I feel of course we’re going to play multiple times in the future. I’m not necessarily looking forward to that. But it will be fun for you guys to watch,” Gauff said ahead of her match as she couldn’t wait to face her rival and good friend. However, ahead of their clash, social media is uncertain about who will prevail in this heavyweight contest.

Coco Gauff and Naomi Osaka’s dream matchup leaves fans divided

While Osaka has already won 4 Grand Slam titles, Gauff just has a solitary major title. Both Gauff and Osaka are young and eager to leave a lasting impression on the WTA Tour. However, when it came to picking a winner in this clash, some sided with Coco Gauff while others hoped for Osaka to win. Amid this, one of the fans made an interesting point while rooting for an easy Gauff win. The comment read, “Coco wins easily because Noami h2h wins against top 10 sides is horrible.” Indeed, Osaka struggles against the players ranked in the top 10 and she recently recorded her first top 10 win in over four years.

However, one of the fans had a different opinion. Despite being a fan of Gauff, he predicted that Osaka would come back strongly and upset Gauff. “Love Gauff but I’m rooting for a Naomi comeback,” said the fan. Gauff and Osaka haven’t faced each other for months and as a result, one fan said, “This is going to be good. I have waited for this for the longest.”

Apart from their on-court exploits, the two are also well-renowned in the fashion world. Additionally, they can often be spotted wearing unique outfits on the court. Thus, one fan felt that it was a ‘battle of beauties’ and the one in which a clear winner cannot be picked. Amid all this, one X user was not very happy to see them clash in the pre-quarterfinals itself. The fan said, “This would make for an excellent finals match let alone a R16…”

Both Coco Gauff and Osaka are Grand Slam champions and know when to raise their games. As a result, expect a tight contest when they clash against each other in Beijing tomorrow.