How to win with grace


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.

Comments

  1. Mobius says

    “…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.

  2. blf says

    In another incident, Tennis player Mike Bryan fined $10,000 for US Open gun gesture:

    […]
    American doubles tennis player Mike Bryan has been fined $10,000 for using his racket to make a shooting gesture at a line judge at the US Open tournament.

    Bryan, playing alongside his twin brother Bob during a second-round match in New York, placed the head of his racket on his shoulder and pretended to aim the handle at the official after successfully challenging an incorrect call.

    He then pointed his finger at the chair umpire, Mariana Alves, and the line judge, and shook his head.

    Alves issued a code violation against Bryan for unsportsmanlike conduct during Saturday’s match, calling the gesture inappropriate.

    The US Tennis Association handed the six-time US Open champion a $10,000 penalty on Sunday, the highest fine received by a male player so far at this year’s tournament.

    “The gesture warranted that amount,” USTA spokesman Brendan McIntyre said.

    […]

    The match was played hours after a man in West Texas shot seven people to death and injured 22 others.

    […]

    Mr Bryan did apologise (see link).

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *