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Osaka thrashes tearful Gauff

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NEW YORK: Defending champion Naomi Osaka consoled a tearful Coco Gauff after a crushing US Open victory Saturday in a showdown billed as “the future of women’s tennis” while Rafael Nadal cruised into the last 16. World number one Osaka overpowered 15-year-old Gauff 6-3, 6-0 in 65 minutes to keep her title defense on track before sharing a warm embrace with an opponent overwhelmed by the occasion in the New York spotlight. The emotional clash was followed by tearful on-court interviews, Osaka asking Gauff to join her with the microphone as they met at the net.

Naomi Osaka (right) of Japan meets Coco Gauff of the US at the net. Photo: AFP

“It was kind of instinctive because when I shook her hand, I saw that she was kind of tearing up a little.

Then it reminded me how young she was,” Osaka said. “I wanted her to have her head high, not walk off the court sad. I want her to, like, be aware that she’s accomplished so much and she’s still so young.” Osaka said the match was one of her best since winning the Australian Open title.

“This is the most focused I’ve been since Australia,” Osaka said, telling Gauff: “Sorry for playing you in this mentality.” The primetime third-round clash at Arthur Ashe Stadium pitted 21-year-old Japanese star Osaka against the American, who made a fourth-round Wimbledon run on her Grand Slam debut. Serena Williams, the 23-time Grand Slam champion, called it “the future of women’s tennis”, while Novak Djokovic labelled Gauff “a new superstar”. – AFP

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