Osaka, Gauff draw praise for sportsmanship after matchup


Sometimes it's the kids who really show you how it's done.
The No. 1-ranked player in women's tennis, 21-year-old Naomi Osaka, and 15-year-old phenom Coco Gauff garnered a lot of praise Saturday evening following their 4th round U.S. Open matchup at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York.
Osaka still has a chance to defend her 2018 U.S. Open title after defeating Gauff, 6-3, 6-0, and she will move on to face 13th-seeded Belinda Bencic in the quarterfinals Monday. But as well as she played, it's what she did after the match that will likely stick in most people's minds. Gauff, who became the youngest woman since 1996 to win two matches at the U.S. Open, was tearful following her defeat when Osaka went over to comfort her. In their post-match interview, it was clear they harbor quite a bit of respect for each other.
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"I wanted her to have her head high, not walk off the court sad," Osaka said, referring to Gauff. "I wanted her to be aware that she's accomplished so much, and she's still so young." Read more at ESPN. Tim O'Donnell
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Tim is a staff writer at The Week and has contributed to Bedford and Bowery and The New York Transatlantic. He is a graduate of Occidental College and NYU's journalism school. Tim enjoys writing about baseball, Europe, and extinct megafauna. He lives in New York City.
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