Naomi Osaka shows what sportsmanship is all about

SCREEN CAPTURE / YOUTUBE

No. 1 ranked Naomi Osaka consoled Coco Gauff after their match aat the U.S. Open.

The No. 1 ranked women's tennis player Naomi Osaka reminded us what a true champion is supposed to look like Saturday (Aug. 31) at the U.S. Open.

In easily defeating upstart, fan favorite 15-year-old Coco Gauff, Naomi Osaka, 21, won over more fans with her sportsmanship.

Gauff captivated the home crowds at the U.S. Open held in Flushing to reach the third round and set up a dream meeting with Osaka at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

From the outset, Osaka took control, overwhelming the Florida teenager with a strong serve and pinpoint angles. Osaka dominated the youngster, winning the first set 6-3 and silencing the crowd rooting for the underdog Coco.

The second set was even more convincing as Osaka cruised to a 6-0 second set, to seal her spot in the round of 16.

Even though the Arhur Ashe Stadium audience was abuzz about the match everyone wanted to see -- the teenage sensation vs. last year's champion -- it was what happened after the match that tennis fans will be talking about.

Osaka, who holds dual citizenship -- US and Japanese -- gave Coco a warm embrace as the teenager fought off tears.

In an emotional moment for all involved, Gauff laughed at the scene that saw both young women in tears.

"She was crying, she won. I was crying. Everybody was crying. I was like, 'I don't know why she was crying. You won the match!'"

Osaka consoled Gauff convincing her opponent to join her in the post-game interview.

Osaka, who speaks from the heart, got misty-eyed too when she addressed Gauff’s family box during the on-court interview. "For me, the fact that both of us made it, and we're both still working as hard as we can, I think it's incredible," she said. "And I think you guys are amazing and I think, Coco, you're amazing."

Although there hasn't been much social interaction between the two players, they know each other because they practice at the same facility in Florida. Their fathers, both of whom coached their daughters when starting out, know each other.

"I wasn't expecting it. I'm glad that I was able to experience that moment,"Gauff told the media afterwards. "She was crying, she won. I was crying. Everybody was crying. But I think it was a good moment for both of us."

The two young women, both unknown a year ago, represent the future of tennis. Hopefully, they'll meet each other on the court many times more.

_____________________________________________________________________

US Open Tennis: Osaka will go against crowd favorite

SCREEN CAPTURE 

Naomi Osaka is defending her US Open crown this week.

No. 1 seed Naomi Osaka has not exactly rolled over her opponents in the early rounds of the U.S. Open but she played well enough to reach the third round where she will be tested by 15-year phenom Coco Gauff.

Osaka, 21, the first Asian American woman to be ranked No. 1 in tennis, is back where she first earned her top spot last year by defeating Serena Williams in the finals.

Osaka had to take three sets to defeat Anna Blinkova in a hard-fought first round Tuesday (Aug. 27) but had an easier time gainst Magda Linette in the second round before defeating her 6-2, 6-4.

In the third round, Osaka will face current sensation Gauff. who overcame World No.112 Timea Babos after two hours and 21 minutes of play, becoming the youngest woman to reach the last 32 

The match on Saturday is being billed as the start of what could be long rivalry between the two young players.

Osaka, who has dual citizenship, plays for Japan even though she lives and trains in the US. She will have to overcome the partisan crowd who will likely favor the  140th-ranked, young American who will come in as the underdog.

The partisan Louis Armstrong Stadium crowd chanted and cheered for the teenager during and after the match. "Being American, playing in New York is amazing," said Gauff in a live TV interview after the match. "I knew obviously I was going to be the favorite, especially after Wimbledon, but also being American. [But] I didn't think it was going to be like that."

The soft-spoken Osaka won't be without her own following. On Thursday, Kobe Bryant and Colin Kaepernick were cheering her on. “I don’t know; it’s just funny to me. You know, last year compared to this year there is no way, like, Kobe would sit in my box,” giggled Osaka,

Gauff is already the youngest player to reach the third round of the US Open since Anna Kournikova in 1996, nearly eight years before Gauff was born.

Osaka, who was born in Japan, temporarily lost her No. 1 ranking after being eliminated in the early rounds of the French Open and at Wimbledon.

Osaka, who appears more relaxed since her emotional press conference after her Wimbledon loss, is looking forward to the first match with Gauff. Gauff talked about how nice Osaka had been to her when they met at the Miami Open when she was 13.

"Obviously (Osaka is) an amazing player," said Gauff, who is composed beyond her years. "She's defending champion, she's won two Slams. She's No.1, she's only 21. We're both pretty young, but I'm a little bit newer to the game. So I'm just curious to see how my game matches up against her. Obviously I want to win. I just want to enjoy it, have fun, enjoy the battle. We'll see how it goes."

“She’s super sweet — I would love to play her,’’ Osaka said of Gault. She'll get her wish Saturday.

_________________________________________________________