Coco Gauff Defeats Returning Champ Naomi Osaka In Australian Open

Coco Gauff, Naomi Osaka

Coco Gauff Defeats Defending Champ Naomi Osaka In Australian Open

Coco Gauff, 15,  bested defending champion Naomi Osaka, who was the No. 3 seed, in the fourth round of the Australian Open Thursday (Jan. 23). Naomi Osaka won the open last year. She said this loss

“hurts a little bit more.”

Coco Gauff and Naomi Osaka went head-to-head just hours after Serena Williams was eliminated from the tournament.

Serena Williams

Coco Gauff defeated Naomi Osaka in just 67 minutes, with Gaff herself said was a shocker. When asked how she did it, she confessed,

“I don’t even know. From the crowd, I guess. Honestly, what is my life, like, oh my gosh, two years ago I lost in the first round in juniors and now I’m here — it’s crazy. Honestly, I was just telling myself, ‘One point at a time and keep fighting because you never know what happens on this court.'”
She added that just being in the venue was a milestone moment for her.
“I love it down here, oh my gosh, like, honestly, thank you guys from the bottom of my heart, like, oh my gosh, I’m on the Rod Laver Arena — I can’t believe this.”
She gushed about Rod Laver, the namesake behind the arena and a notable former tennis player in Australia.
“I walked past him a couple of times in the hallway but I never said ‘hi’ because I’m too nervous. If he’s watching, let’s set up a meet up some time, I need a photo for Instagram.”
He later tweeted and said he was all for it.
Of course, she’s still just a teenager and said she planned on doing her homework,
“Probably tomorrow. Because I want to go to sleep tonight. My teachers are giving me some time considering the circumstances — they’re letting me submit late.”
Meanwhile, she’s still making history. Just last October she became the youngest person to ever win the WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) title in 15 years.

 

Authored by: C.J.