Defending US Open champion Osaka outclassed the tearful Gauff, 15, 6-3, 6-0 on Saturday to advance to the fourth round in New York
Naomi Osaka (right) and Coco Gauff after their USA Open Round 3 match on Saturday. Pic/AFP
Naomi Osaka predicted she will strike up an exciting rivalry with American teen sensation Coco Gauff as part of a changing landscape at the top of women's tennis.
Defending US Open champion Osaka outclassed the tearful Gauff, 15, 6-3, 6-0 on Saturday to advance to the fourth round in New York. But World No. 1 Osaka anticipates the pair will wage battles on the court for years to come.
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"I feel like of course we're going to play multiple times in the future. She's so young. That's definitely going to happen," Osaka said. "She seems intelligent, so I think there are things that she's going to change the next time that we play. I'm not necessarily looking forward to that, but I think it will be fun for you guys to watch."
Osaka has struggled to replicate her top form since her Australian Open triumph in January, but the Japanese star delivered a masterclass on and off the court
against Gauff.
The emotional clash was followed by tearful on-court interviews, Osaka asking a reluctant Gauff to join her with the microphone as they met at the net. "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."
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