Caroline Garcia dumps Naomi Osaka out of Miami Open to set up last-16 tie against Coco Gauff

Updated 25/03/2024 at 07:00 GMT

World No. 23 Caroline Garcia moved into the last 16 of the 2024 Miami Open with a victory over former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka, who continued her comeback after over a year away from the sport. Garcia won in straight sets in Florida after struggling with her recent form, and she will come up against Florida local Coco Gauff in the next round, to be played on Monday.

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Caroline Garcia defeated Naomi Osaka 7-6(4) 7-5 in the third round of the Miami Open.

Coming into the match, Osaka had won all four sets played in Miami after beating Elisabetta Cocciaretto and No. 15 seed Elina Svitolina in straight sets.

The 26-year-old and Garcia could not be separated in the opening set of Sunday’s encounter on the Grandstand court, and required a tie-break to see who would take the early advantage.

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After holding in each game, the level from both players dropped as they each continuously lost serve in the tie-break - Garcia three times and Osaka five - as the No. 23 seed sealed it 7-4.

In the second set, Osaka broke Garcia for 4-2 but disappointingly for the former world No. 1, was instantly undone as the French star hit back with a break of her own to cancel out the Japanese player’s efforts.

Garcia was able to break to wrap up a win in a match dominated by aces, with Osaka sending down 16, and Garcia producing 12 of her own.

For Garcia, it marked an uptick in her form after she had lost five of her last six ties, while Osaka is yet to find her best form after taking 15 months away from the sport following pregnancy.

“I truthfully really hated my last performance there,” Osaka said after her defeat.

“I think I wasn’t playing like myself, and I wasn’t dictating the point. I feel like there are certain things that make a player a player.

“For me, it’s dictating the points and having a great serve. Those two things obviously weren’t done well in that match. I just want to have progression and I want to go out like myself, even if I win or lose.”

Garcia’s next match is against Coco Gauff on Monday, who raced past Oceane Dodin 6-4 6-0.

Gauff was 2-4 down in the first set but put together a run of 10 straight games to progress.

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