Naomi Osaka made a grand sporting gesture by consoling her tearful vanquished American teenage sensation Coco Gauff after defeating her in the US Open last September but the story is different in 2020 as the 15-year-old stunned the Australian Open defending champion claiming 6-3 6-4 victory in 67 minutes.
Osaka struggled through the match making 30 unforced errors compared to Gauff’s 17.
“I don’t know where that came from,” the American said after the match. “Honestly, like, what is my life?”
“Two years ago I lost in the first round in juniors and now I’m here,” Gauff added.
“I was telling myself one point at a time and keep fighting. You never know what happens on this court.”
The 22-year-old was below her personal par throughout the match. She only managed to complete 61% of her serve a far cry from Gauff’s 81%.
Gauff will next face fellow American Sofia Kenin in the fourth round after the 21-year-old beat China’s Shuai Zhang 7-5 7-6.
Osaka speaking after the match said;
“I don’t have the champion mentality yet. That is someone who can win when they are down,” Osaka said.
“Sometimes I get overwhelmed and I don’t know what to do in these situations.
“I have an age problem – I don’t like losing to people younger than me. So I took this very personally.”