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Naomi Osaka had classy gesture for Coco Gauff after match

August 31, 2019
by Larry Brown
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Coco GauffNaomi Osaka

Naomi Osaka Coco Gauff

Naomi Osaka ended fan-favorite Coco Gauff’s run at the US Open on Saturday, but the Japanese-born player won over fans with her classy gesture after the match.

Osaka, who won the tournament last year by beating Serena Williams in a controversial finals match, steamrolled Gauff 6-3, 6-0 in one hour and five minutes to advance to the fourth round.

Gauff, who is just 15, was making her Arthur Ashe Stadium debut in front of a sold-out crowd. Getting trounced had to have been disappointing, even if it came at the hands of the No. 1-ranked woman in the world. Gauff was somewhat tearful after the match, so Osaka went to speak with her and give her a pep talk. Osaka encouraged Gauff to join her for a post-match interview that way she could get the adulation from the fans that she deserved before exiting the court.

Gauff could be heard declining because she thought she would cry. Osaka encouraged her in response.

Gauff ended up speaking with ESPN’s Mary Joe Fernandez on the court for an interview:

The gesture and class displayed by Osaka was well-received by the tennis and sports community at large.

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