Japan’s Osaka Makes Winning Return, Sets Up Gauff Showdown

Naomi Osaka of Japan returns a shot from Qinwen Zheng of China during the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic, part of the Hologic WTA Tour, at Spartan Tennis Complex in San Jose, Calif. on Aug. 2, 2022. Carmen Mandato/Getty Images

Four-time major winner Naomi Osaka returned to action for the first time since May with a 6–4 3–6 6–1 win over Zheng Qinwen at the Silicon Valley Classic on Tuesday, setting up a mouth-watering clash against teenage American Coco Gauff.

Japan’s Osaka suffered a left Achilles injury in the lead-up to the French Open, where she lost in the opening round before pulling out of Wimbledon.