Coco Gauff helps carry Naomi Osaka’s bags off the court after the China Open shock

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Coco Gauff helped carry Naomi Osaka’s bags off the court after the former world number 1 withdrew from the highly anticipated China Open quarter-final with a back injury.

Gauff had just leveled the match at one set when Osaka shook hands with her opponent, having undergone medical treatment earlier in the match.

“It’s been a good game so far,” Gauff said. “I wish Naomi a speedy recovery. No one wants to win a match like this, especially not in one set.”

Osaka faced Gauff for the first time since 2022 and appeared to have the better of her younger opponent in the meeting of former US Open champions.

Osaka, playing her first tournament under Patrick Mouratoglou, Serena Williams’ former coach, broke Gauff to lead 6-3 4-3.

But Gauff won the next three matches to level the match before Osaka retired. “Overall I did my best,” Gauff admitted. “It wasn’t my best tennis.”

Fourth seed Gauff will face Ukrainian qualifier Yuliia Starodubtseva, who continued her brilliant run by beating 10th seed Anna Kalinskaya 7-5 6-0.

Chinese wildcard Zhang Shuai’s remarkable week also continued with the veteran, who entered the tournament having lost 24 straight singles matches, making it four wins in a row with a 6-4 6-2 victory over Magdalena Frech.

In the last eight, she will face 15th seed Paula Badosa, who upset US Open finalist Jessica Pegula 6-4 6-0.

Including reporting from PA