Izuchukwu OkosiAustralian Open women’s defending champion Aryna Sabalenka and fourth seed Coco Gauff produced the most impressive performances in the women’s draw on Sunday to advance to the quarter-finals of the competition.
World number 2, Sabalenka edged past American Amanda Anisimova 6-3 6-2 while Coco Gauff who won the US Open in 2023 got the better of Polish rival, Magdalena Frech 6-1 6-2 to book a place in the quarterfinals.
The 19-year-old Gauff has produced nine successive wins already in the new year after winning the Auckland Invitational Championship title during the second week of the season, and has dropped just a single set in the process.
The reward for Sabalenka is a date with former Roland Garros champion Barbora Krejcikova, who outwitted teenager Mirra Andreeva 6-4 3-6 6-2.
The world No.2 outclassed American Amanda Anisimova 6-3 6-2 and has dropped just 11 games on her way to the quarterfinals. Her longest match so far has been an hour and 10 minutes.
Last year’s US Open champion Gauff opened the Rod Laver Arena schedule on Sunday and was far too strong for Poland’s Magdalena Frech 6-1 6-2 on her way to her first Australian Open quarterfinal.
The 19-year-old Gauff has produced nine successive wins already in the new year after winning the Auckland Invitational Championship title during the second week of the season, and has dropped just a single set in the process.
Speaking after her win, Coco Gauff paid tribute to the legendary Rod Lever who was in the stands to watch her.
“I want to see the Iron Claw tonight. It was an honor to play in front of you!”
Gauff’s victory came a day after world number 1, Iga Swiatek was eliminated after suffering a chastening defeat to Linda Noskova.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
In October 2004, Okosi joined Complete Communications Limited, publishers of Complete Sports newspaper and Complete Football magazine as a reporter and later script writer for the Complete Sports studio.
He worked there for 13 years until October 2017.
Okosi also worked various times as Correspondent, Content creator and Editor at Sports Market International Magazine, Opera News, All Nigeria Soccer Media and Iconic Media Watch.
He also undertook freelance writing gigs for some local and international organizations.
Okosi is a member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Association of Voiceover Artistes of Nigeria (AVOA), Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
He has been part of cast in some Nollywood movies and radio dramas including Blood Money 2, Scores To Settle, Dead End 2, Another Campus Tale and Battle Line.
Aside mainstream media and the entertainment industry, he has interests in scouting/unearthing of talents in the sports and creative sectors, exports business and property development.
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