Defending US Open champion Naomi Osaka defeated 15-year old Coco Gauff 6-3, 6-0 in the third round of this year’s US Open. But what people are talking about is what happened after the match ended.
After a warm handshake and a hug, the 21 year-old walked over to the 15 year-old and asked if they could do the on-court interview together. Gauff initially refused as tears welled in her eyes, but Osaka insisted and her beaten opponent agreed. After trading forehands and fist-pumps across the net all evening, they walked over to the same side of the court together.
“I saw that she was kind of tearing up a little,” said Osaka. “Then it reminded me how young she was. I was just thinking, like, it would be nice for her to address the people that came and watched her play. They were cheering for her. Yeah, I mean, for me, it was just something that was, I don’t know, instinctive I guess.”
…For Gauff, the match was a learning experience, but the moment the world number one took her under her wing was one to cherish.
“I think she really showed sportsmanship tonight,” said Gauff. “I mean, I wasn’t expecting it. I’m glad that I was able to experience that moment. I’m glad the crowd was kind of helping me and her. She was crying, she won. I was crying. Everybody was crying.”
You can watch the post game interview with both players.
When we lift each other up, we all succeed.pic.twitter.com/gEvLgiLDhX
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) September 1, 2019
“…a class act.” Osaka certainly was. And I think Gauff will be an up and coming player in the future. Only 15 years old and in the US Open. Amazing.
In another incident, Tennis player Mike Bryan fined $10,000 for US Open gun gesture:
Mr Bryan did apologise (see link).