Firstpost
  • Home
  • Video Shows
    Vantage Firstpost America Firstpost Africa First Sports
  • World
    US News
  • Explainers
  • News
    India Opinion Cricket Tech Entertainment Sports Health Photostories
  • Asia Cup 2025
Apple Incorporated Modi ji Justin Trudeau Trending

Sections

  • Home
  • Live TV
  • Videos
  • Shows
  • World
  • India
  • Explainers
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Cricket
  • Health
  • Tech/Auto
  • Entertainment
  • Web Stories
  • Business
  • Impact Shorts

Shows

  • Vantage
  • Firstpost America
  • Firstpost Africa
  • First Sports
  • Fast and Factual
  • Between The Lines
  • Flashback
  • Live TV

Events

  • Raisina Dialogue
  • Independence Day
  • Champions Trophy
  • Delhi Elections 2025
  • Budget 2025
  • US Elections 2024
  • Firstpost Defence Summit
Trending:
  • Nepal protests
  • Nepal Protests Live
  • Vice-presidential elections
  • iPhone 17
  • IND vs PAK cricket
  • Israel-Hamas war
fp-logo
US Open 2019: Coco Gauff faces reality check in blockbuster clash against World No 1 Naomi Osaka
Whatsapp Facebook Twitter
Whatsapp Facebook Twitter
Apple Incorporated Modi ji Justin Trudeau Trending

Sections

  • Home
  • Live TV
  • Videos
  • Shows
  • World
  • India
  • Explainers
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Cricket
  • Health
  • Tech/Auto
  • Entertainment
  • Web Stories
  • Business
  • Impact Shorts

Shows

  • Vantage
  • Firstpost America
  • Firstpost Africa
  • First Sports
  • Fast and Factual
  • Between The Lines
  • Flashback
  • Live TV

Events

  • Raisina Dialogue
  • Independence Day
  • Champions Trophy
  • Delhi Elections 2025
  • Budget 2025
  • US Elections 2024
  • Firstpost Defence Summit
  • Home
  • Sports
  • US Open 2019: Coco Gauff faces reality check in blockbuster clash against World No 1 Naomi Osaka

US Open 2019: Coco Gauff faces reality check in blockbuster clash against World No 1 Naomi Osaka

The Associated Press • August 31, 2019, 15:01:03 IST
Whatsapp Facebook Twitter

Saturday night’s showdown at Arthur Ashe Stadium in the round of 32 might just be the start of a rivalry between the 15-year-old Gauff and World No 1 Osaka

Advertisement
Subscribe Join Us
Add as a preferred source on Google
Prefer
Firstpost
On
Google
US Open 2019: Coco Gauff faces reality check in blockbuster clash against World No 1 Naomi Osaka

New York: It’s rather rare that a third-round Grand Slam match involving a player ranked merely 140th and playing in her second major tournament would generate a ton of buzz. When that player is Coco Gauff, though, the calculus changes. And when her opponent is the US Open’s defending champion and No 1 seed, Naomi Osaka, well, the hype and hyperbole are bound to be limitless. In this case, it might just be justified. [caption id=“attachment_7260681” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]This will be the first meeting between both players. AFP This will be the first meeting between both players. AFP[/caption] “I definitely think it’s the future of women’s tennis,” 23-time major champion Serena Williams said on Friday after winning her third-round match. “And I’m really excited to just be a ‘fangirl’ and kind of watch.” These are two of the most dynamic young players on tour at the moment and Saturday night’s showdown at Arthur Ashe Stadium in the round of 32 might just be the start of a rivalry between the 15-year-old Gauff and Osaka, who is the grizzled veteran in this one at 21. “They both have something to prove in this match,” said Chris Evert, who won six of her 18 Slam trophies in New York and is calling matches for ESPN. “Coco will really get an accurate reading on where she is, compared to the other women. And Naomi has something to prove, too. She has to prove that she’s really No 1 in the world and that, even though she’s had a mediocre year, she can still find that ‘A game’ when she needs to.” The two players have known each other for a while now, even practising together at the Miami Open when Gauff was 13. Their fathers are friends. Osaka, who’s been wearing a black sleeve on her problematic left knee, looks out for Gauff in the locker room. Gauff looks up to Osaka. “She’s a big inspiration for everyone,” said Gauff, who teamed with 17-year-old Caty McNally to win a first-round doubles match Friday. “She’s 21. She has two Slams. She’s still striving for more.” Osaka followed up her major championship breakthrough in New York a year ago — who could forget that chaotic final against Williams? — by adding a second trophy at the Australian Open in January, then becoming the first player representing Japan to ascend to No 1 in the rankings. What got lost amid the controversy in 2018 was how supremely well Osaka played, essentially producing a better version — for that evening, at least — of Williams’ power-based game, filled with dangerous serves, booming groundstrokes and confident court coverage. Gauff can wallop a ball, too, which became apparent during her fascinating trip to Wimbledon in July. She arrived there ranked 313th, recipient of a wild card from the All England Club into qualifying. Gauff, who is based in Florida, was a known quantity in the tennis world, having been a junior runner-up at the U.S. Open two years ago and a junior champion at the French Open last year, but not the world at large, which quickly learned all about her. First came a victory over Williams’ elder sister, five-time Wimbledon champ Venus. Then came two more wins against older, more experienced players, before it took the eventual champion, Simona Halep, to put an end to the riveting run in the fourth round. Gauff is now ranked 140th, which would have been too low to get her into the field at Flushing Meadows, but the US Tennis Association opted to ignore the WTA’s age eligibility rule limiting how many wild cards someone her age can be offered and gave her one, anyway. “Coco’s obviously the underdog at this point, but I’m excited to watch it,” said Kathy Rinaldi, the USTA’s head of women’s tennis and Fed Cup captain. “It’s two very talented, young players. It’s going to be fun.” Gauff sure looks as if she belongs, having gutted out a pair of three-setters so far. Osaka has the edge in experience and accomplishments but hasn’t played at her highest level this week. “Coco is playing like a top-20 player now. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if she did win the match, from just the way she’s been playing and what I’ve seen. On the other hand, this is just the type of match Naomi Osaka will get psyched up for and maybe we’ll see her best tennis — because we really haven’t seen it here,” Evert said. “Even though they might downplay it, believe me, it’s a pressure match for both of them,” she said. “You know there’s going to be that electricity because everyone’s seeing the future for maybe the first time.”

Tags
Wimbledon Tennis Japan Serena Williams Venus Williams French Open Chris Evert Simona Halep Florida Arthur Ashe Stadium Miami Open Flushing Meadows WTA Women's Tennis US Tennis Association Naomi Osaka Kathy Rinaldi USTA Coco Gauff US Open 2019 Caty McNally
End of Article
Latest News
Find us on YouTube
Subscribe
End of Article

Impact Shorts

WWE SummerSlam 2025 Night 2 results: Cody Rhodes beats John Cena in wild title match

WWE SummerSlam 2025 Night 2 results: Cody Rhodes beats John Cena in wild title match

Brock Lesnar's return headlines Night Two of WWE Summerslam Cody Rhodes defeats John Cena to become the Undisputed WWE Champion Becky Lynch defeats Lyra Valkyria to stay Women’s Intercontinental Champion.

More Impact Shorts

Top Stories

Israel targets top Hamas leaders in Doha; Qatar, Iran condemn strike as violation of sovereignty

Israel targets top Hamas leaders in Doha; Qatar, Iran condemn strike as violation of sovereignty

Nepal: Oli to continue until new PM is sworn in, nation on edge as all branches of govt torched

Nepal: Oli to continue until new PM is sworn in, nation on edge as all branches of govt torched

Who is CP Radhakrishnan, India's next vice-president?

Who is CP Radhakrishnan, India's next vice-president?

Israel informed US ahead of strikes on Hamas leaders in Doha, says White House

Israel informed US ahead of strikes on Hamas leaders in Doha, says White House

Israel targets top Hamas leaders in Doha; Qatar, Iran condemn strike as violation of sovereignty

Israel targets top Hamas leaders in Doha; Qatar, Iran condemn strike as violation of sovereignty

Nepal: Oli to continue until new PM is sworn in, nation on edge as all branches of govt torched

Nepal: Oli to continue until new PM is sworn in, nation on edge as all branches of govt torched

Who is CP Radhakrishnan, India's next vice-president?

Who is CP Radhakrishnan, India's next vice-president?

Israel informed US ahead of strikes on Hamas leaders in Doha, says White House

Israel informed US ahead of strikes on Hamas leaders in Doha, says White House

Top Shows

Vantage Firstpost America Firstpost Africa First Sports
Latest News About Firstpost
Most Searched Categories
  • Web Stories
  • World
  • India
  • Explainers
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Cricket
  • Tech/Auto
  • Entertainment
  • IPL 2025
NETWORK18 SITES
  • News18
  • Money Control
  • CNBC TV18
  • Forbes India
  • Advertise with us
  • Sitemap
Firstpost Logo

is on YouTube

Subscribe Now

Copyright @ 2024. Firstpost - All Rights Reserved

About Us Contact Us Privacy Policy Cookie Policy Terms Of Use
Home Video Shorts Live TV