Osaka vs. Andreescu: Tennis Rivalry in the Making?

Wu Hong/EPA, via Shutterstock

Women’s tennis has so much going for it: new stars from different continents, week-to-week suspense, and grande dame Serena Williams’s ongoing quest for a 24th major singles title.

What the women’s game lacks is the same element it has lacked for far too many years: a transcendent, long-running rivalry.

That is why Friday’s quarterfinal at the China Open between Naomi Osaka and Bianca Andreescu was appointment viewing, even in inconvenient time zones.

Could this turn out to be the one?

“The next thing the WTA needs is that big rivalry,” said Tracy Austin, the analyst and former No. 1. “Right now, the excitement with the WTA is that it’s multigenerational and it’s…