INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — Aryna Sabalenka and Naomi Osaka lined up a fourth-round clash at Indian Wells as fourth-ranked Coco Gauff retired with a left arm injury.
World No 1 Sabalenka powered past Romania’s Jaqueline Cristian 6-4, 6-1 to book a last-16 meeting with former champion Osaka.
Japan’s Osaka, seeded 16th, pounced for a 6-1, 3-6, 6-1 victory over Camila Osorio to avenge a demoralising first-round loss to the Colombian here last year.
They were joined in the fourth round by the Philippines’ rising star Alexandra Eala, who was leading Gauff 6-2, 2-0 when the American retired with a left arm injury.
Gauff said the pain “felt like a firework going off inside of my arm, and then my whole arm felt like it was on fire.
“And then as the match played, it got progressively worse, even on shots that I wasn’t even using my left arm for … it was a scary feeling.”
Gauff trailed 5-2 in the first when she took a medical timeout, a trainer massaging and manipulating her left arm and shoulder, AFP reported.
After Eala broke to take the set on a double fault from Gauff the trainer wrapped her left forearm.
It was to no avail, and after 54 minutes Gauff went to the net and told Eala she was calling it a day.
“I really didn’t want to win this way,” said Eala, who was cheered on as usual by a big contingent of Filipino fans.
“But this is still a really big moment for me to be able to play on Stadium One of Indian Wells and against such a great competitor,” she added, wishing Gauff a speedy recovery.
Earlier action was relatively drama-free.
“So many things I felt like I did great today,” Sabalenka said after overpowering Cristian with a performance that included 23 winners. “Serving well, happy with the way I stayed focused no matter what (and) of course happy with the win.”
Sabalenka is chasing a first title in the prestigious ATP and WTA Masters 1000 event after twice coming up empty in the final.
Osaka won her first title in Indian Wells in 2018, going on to win the US Open that year in a run that included a victory over Sabalenka.
That’s the only meeting to date between the two – who are now both four-time Grand Slam champions.
“I’ll have a chance to get a revenge, hopefully,” Sabalenka said.
