Sport shorts: Gauff sets up dream US Open clash with Osaka, Bronze and Van Dijk win top gongs, Archer gets rubies for wickets

1. Gauff to face Osaka at US Open

American teenage tennis star Coco Gauff will face defending champion Naomi Osaka in the third round of the US Open grand slam in New York.

Gauff, 15, beat Hungary’s Timea Babos 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 to set up the dream clash against world No.1 Osaka tomorrow.

When asked about the challenge of facing the Japanese star, Gauff said: “She’s an amazing player. She’s defending champion. She’s won two slams. She’s No.1. She’s only 21.

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“We’re both pretty young. But I’m a little bit newer to the game. So I’m just curious to see how my game matches up against her. Obviously I want to win.”

2. Archer will get rubies for Ashes wickets

England cricketer Jofra Archer is to get a ruby for every wicket he takes during the Ashes series against Australia. The fast-bowling sensation is known for his extravagant gold chains and is sponsored by UK-based jeweller Pragnell. The firm has announced it is making him a chain and will add a ruby per wicket.

Ashes 4th Test: Aussies are anxious says England star Jofra Archer

3. Cantona: ‘Humans will become eternal’

Eric Cantona baffled football fans yesterday during an appearance at the Uefa Champions League draw. Sporting an enormous beard, the former Manchester United star - famed for his gnomic utterances - produced a “philosophical monologue loosely based on football”, promising “soon… we will become eternal”, The Guardian reports.

4. Enrique’s daughter dies from bone cancer

Former Spain and Barcelona head coach Luis Enrique announced yesterday that his nine-year-old daughter, Xana, had died from bone cancer. Enrique, who stepped down from the Spain job in June, said: “You will be the star that guides our family. We will miss you very much but we will remember you every day of our lives in the hope that in the future we will meet again.”

5. United face Kazakhstan trip

Manchester United will have to take a 6,000-mile round trip to Kazakhstan after drawing Astana in the Uefa Europa League group stage. United and Astana are joined in group L by Partizan Belgrade and AJ Alkmaar. Arsenal, Wolves, Celtic and Rangers are also through to the group stage.

6. Barca, Inter and Dortmund in UCL group of death

The draw for the Uefa Champions League group stage has put Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan and Slavia Prague into this season’s “group of death”. Reigning champions Liverpool are the favourites to top group E which also includes Napoli, Salzburg and Genk.

7. Top gongs for Bronze and Van Dijk

At yesterday’s Champions League draw it was also announced that England’s Lucy Bronze had been named as the Uefa Women’s Player of the Year. Liverpool and Netherlands defender Virgil van Dijk won the men’s award.

8. Vettel fastest in FP1 at Spa

Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc secured a Ferrari 1-2 in first practice at the Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix. Vettel set the pace at Spa with a time of 1:44.574, with team-mate Leclerc two-tenths of a second behind.

F1 Belgian GP: preview, predictions, TV and odds

9. Alexis seals Inter loan

Alexis Sanchez has completed his move to Inter Milan. The Chilean forward only scored five goals during a miserable spell at Manchester United and he will now play on loan at Italian club Inter until 30 June 2020. Alexis is the second United forward to join Inter this summer after Romelu Lukaku signed for the Milan club on a permanent deal.

Man Utd: Smalling and Darmian set to follow Alexis out of the Old Trafford exit

10. Southgate opts for young lions

After announcing his latest squad England manager Gareth Southgate has told his players to keep performing or face the axe. Kyle Walker was left out of Southgate’s 25-man squad for the Uefa Euro 2020 qualifiers against Bulgaria and Kosovo next month, and the Three Lions boss has warned no one is safe.

Today’s back pages: Walker axed as England boss Southgate gets tough