US Open on Saturday witnessed some soul-stirring scenes when Naomi Osaka salvaged what otherwise could have been an awkward moment. She comforted and helped fifteen-year-old Coco Gauff deal with her disappointment after a heartbreaking loss. Wise-beyond-her-years, twenty-one-year-old Naomi consoled the teenager. The Japanese won the match 6-0 6-3 and dominated the contest in a way which brought tears to the eyes of the rising American star.
Emotional scenes after Naomi-Gauff US Open match
After the match, Gauff said: “She was crying, she won. I was crying. Everybody was crying. I didn’t know why she was crying. I was like, ‘you won the match!”
Naomi put herself immediately in the sneakers of the crestfallen teen opponent and helped her make the negatives into positives. The Japanese tennis star requested Gauff to remain on the court, and stay on for the post-match interview that turned out to be one of the most memorable and touching moments of this year’s US Open.
In the post-match interview, Gauff said about Osaka that: “I definitely was wanting to leave the court because I’m not the type of person who wants to cry in front of everyone and I didn’t want to take that moment away from her as well”. However, the fifteen-year-old later added: “She told me, ‘It’s better than crying in the shower.’ She convinced me multiple times to stay. I kept saying no. Until, finally I said, ‘OK, I’ll do it.’ Because I didn’t know what to do.”
Last year, however, Osaka could not treat her two emotionally charged and high-profile triumphs in the same manner. And, she yanked her visor down to cover her tearful eyes. However, Saturday night saw Osaka embracing the poignancy of a different situation when she persuaded her teenaged rival to stay for the post-match interview.
Coco was full of praise for Naomi when she said: “For me, the definition of an athlete is someone who on the court treats you like your worst enemy but off the court can be your best friend. I think that’s what she did tonight.” And, later added: “She really showed sportsmanship. I mean, I wasn’t expecting it. And, I’m glad I was able to experience that moment.”
After having been deprived of her rightful victory moment last year, Naomi indeed made up for that one on numerous levels. She went up to the stands where Gauff’s parents stood and told them: “You guys raised an amazing player, I think you guys are amazing, and I think, Coco, you are amazing.”
Well, so is Naomi isn’t she?
