Six summers ago, Naomi Osaka and Coco Gauff shared a novel moment within the third round of the U.S. Open.
Gauff, 15 on the time, had just lost her Arthur Ashe Stadium debut to Osaka, the reigning champion of the tournament in Flushing.
It was evident the win was secondary for Osaka, who immediately checked on Gauff before sharing her highlight with the then-teenager.
Because the two prepare to square off within the round of 16 on the exact same court, nevertheless, the evolution of that memorable moment has made for a highly anticipated showdown Monday night with a quarterfinal berth on the road.
“I used to be wanting to depart the court because I’m not the variety of one who desires to cry in front of everyone. I didn’t need to take that moment away from her, as well,” Gauff said on the time of the exchange. “She told me it’s higher than crying within the shower. She convinced me multiple times to remain. I kept saying no. Finally I said, ‘OK, I’ll do it,’ because I didn’t know what to do.
“I’m blissful that she form of convinced me to do it because, I mean, I’m not used to crying in front of everyone.”
That was Gauff’s most formal introduction to Recent York, and vice versa, in what was just her second Grand Slam appearance.
Since then, the now-21-year-old has captured two titles because the 2023 U.S. Open winner and this 12 months’s French Open champion.
Osaka won the Open again in 2020, along with topping the Australian Open the next 12 months.
She then became a mom in 2023, taking the 12 months off before working through some trials and tribulations to return to her pre-pregnancy form.
However the two have developed a transparent bond based on mutual respect and admiration.
“I remember just knowing that she was going to be a extremely great tennis player, which I used to be right,” Osaka said with fun Saturday, when she was asked what she remembers from the 2019 match against Gauff. “But yeah, I mean, she was, what, 15 on the time? I believed she just handled herself very well, and I knew she was going to be back there.
“Now to be playing her again after six years, I don’t know if that makes me old, but yeah, simply to be at this point of my life and to be playing her again is, truthfully, for me, feels form of special.
Gauff and Osaka have largely traded off wins through their five meetings, but they haven’t accomplished a match since 2022.
After beating Osaka in straight sets on the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic, Gauff earned a walkover of their last meeting last 12 months in Beijing as a result of the 27-year-old Osaka’s back injury.
When Osaka informed Gauff she was retiring, they hugged.
Gauff then helped carry Osaka’s bags off the court.
Osaka may view Gauff as a bit of sister, but this match might be an ode to her journey back to a form that’s worthy of this stage.
And while Gauff’s recognition of Osaka has been well-documented, this next meeting could represent a generational statement.
Times have modified, possibly, however the girlhood still stays.
“For me, a definition of an athlete is someone who treats you as their worst enemy on the court, but after, they treat you such as you’re their best friend,” Gauff said six years ago. “That’s what she did.”
Six summers ago, Naomi Osaka and Coco Gauff shared a novel moment within the third round of the U.S. Open.
Gauff, 15 on the time, had just lost her Arthur Ashe Stadium debut to Osaka, the reigning champion of the tournament in Flushing.
It was evident the win was secondary for Osaka, who immediately checked on Gauff before sharing her highlight with the then-teenager.
Because the two prepare to square off within the round of 16 on the exact same court, nevertheless, the evolution of that memorable moment has made for a highly anticipated showdown Monday night with a quarterfinal berth on the road.
“I used to be wanting to depart the court because I’m not the variety of one who desires to cry in front of everyone. I didn’t need to take that moment away from her, as well,” Gauff said on the time of the exchange. “She told me it’s higher than crying within the shower. She convinced me multiple times to remain. I kept saying no. Finally I said, ‘OK, I’ll do it,’ because I didn’t know what to do.
“I’m blissful that she form of convinced me to do it because, I mean, I’m not used to crying in front of everyone.”
That was Gauff’s most formal introduction to Recent York, and vice versa, in what was just her second Grand Slam appearance.
Since then, the now-21-year-old has captured two titles because the 2023 U.S. Open winner and this 12 months’s French Open champion.
Osaka won the Open again in 2020, along with topping the Australian Open the next 12 months.
She then became a mom in 2023, taking the 12 months off before working through some trials and tribulations to return to her pre-pregnancy form.
However the two have developed a transparent bond based on mutual respect and admiration.
“I remember just knowing that she was going to be a extremely great tennis player, which I used to be right,” Osaka said with fun Saturday, when she was asked what she remembers from the 2019 match against Gauff. “But yeah, I mean, she was, what, 15 on the time? I believed she just handled herself very well, and I knew she was going to be back there.
“Now to be playing her again after six years, I don’t know if that makes me old, but yeah, simply to be at this point of my life and to be playing her again is, truthfully, for me, feels form of special.
Gauff and Osaka have largely traded off wins through their five meetings, but they haven’t accomplished a match since 2022.
After beating Osaka in straight sets on the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic, Gauff earned a walkover of their last meeting last 12 months in Beijing as a result of the 27-year-old Osaka’s back injury.
When Osaka informed Gauff she was retiring, they hugged.
Gauff then helped carry Osaka’s bags off the court.
Osaka may view Gauff as a bit of sister, but this match might be an ode to her journey back to a form that’s worthy of this stage.
And while Gauff’s recognition of Osaka has been well-documented, this next meeting could represent a generational statement.
Times have modified, possibly, however the girlhood still stays.
“For me, a definition of an athlete is someone who treats you as their worst enemy on the court, but after, they treat you such as you’re their best friend,” Gauff said six years ago. “That’s what she did.”
