TRAGIC NEWS: Coco Guaff was eliminated from the Madrid Open because of…
The 21-year-old US Open champion defeated her opponent in just 51 minutes, with Rus only winning 18 points in the match.
The local favorite Rafael Nadal’s tournament opener was on Thursday, and Gauff’s match was scheduled before that. She joked after her convincing victory, saying, “I know everybody is here to see Rafa, so I was just trying to get off the court for you guys.”
Gauff, ranked third in Madrid, will play Dayana Yastremska of Ukraine, ranked 31st, in the following round.
Osaka lost the opening set 6-2 after falling behind 4-0 in a first set that belied the captivating match that would ensue. She was also broken early in the second and third sets.
As Samsonova seemed to lose her composure, the former world No. 1 struck back on each occasion, winning four games in a row after trailing 4-3 in the second set to equalize the score at one set apiece.
In her subsequent service game, after saving two set points from 15-40 down, Samsonova double-failed once more after Osaka managed a third. At 4-3 up, Samsonova sent down three double faults to be broken and forfeit her advantage.
Samsonova eventually gained the crucial break in the eleventh game of an extremely close third set. She then mustered the courage to serve out the match and defeat the four-time Grand Slam champion 6-2, 4-6, 7-5.
In the third round, Samsonova will take on American Madison Keys, ranked eighteenth.
