Federer, Djokovic Weigh in on Gauff v Osaka

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Federer, Djokovic Weigh in on Gauff v Osaka

The tennis world will be glued to primetime tennis on Saturday night in New York, as 15-year-old sensation Coco Gauff plays the night session on Arthur Ashe Stadium against World No.1 and defending US Open champion Naomi Osaka.

Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic will be watching as well.

The pair of tennis luminaries chimed in on the popcorn matchup that is captivating some many fans at the moment after their Day Five victories in New York.

“Obviously Osaka is going to be the favorite,” Federer told reporters. “She played so great here last year already. But, you know, I think playing at home, there is always a shot and a chance, and she's done so well again here this tournament. I think we're all a bit surprised that she's able to back it up after Wimbledon, you know, which was already an incredible run.”

Federer believes that Gauff, who is the youngest player to reach the third round at the US Open since 1996, has extra pressure on her because the WTA’s age eligibility rule limits the total amount of tournaments she can play per year.

"She's got the pressure that she can't play every week like some other touring pros,” Federer said. “She only plays sometimes. So when you play, you feel like maybe there is extra pressure, but she's able to handle it and dig deep and find ways to win.

Federer finds it remarkable how well she has been able to do with limited experience and limited time on tour.

“For her to strive in those conditions shows she's going to have a great future ahead of herself,” he said. “I like that also she's taking her days off, she's really taking days off and not doing extra media and extra stuff. Let her parents do that stuff. You know, let her relax.”

US Open defending men's singles champion Djokovic believes that Gauff has the it factor—she’s a bonafide star, he says.

“Coco is definitely a new superstar of tennis. It's great to see her fighting spirit, her intensity,” Djokovic said. “She's only 15. She brings so much maturity in her game for such a young age. It's very impressive.”

Djokovic says he is a fan of both players, and he is looking forward to seeing them battle on Saturday.

“Definitely a fan of her and fan of Naomi, as well, what she has done in the last couple of years,” she said. “It's going to be really interesting because they're both very likable players and girls. They have a lot of fans. It's going to be definitely a great match to see.”

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