By Richard Pagliaro | Saturday, August 31, 2019
NEW YORK—A wall of sound erupting from the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd and the squealing sneakers of her teenage opponent confronted defending US Open champion Naomi Osaka tonight.
Osaka embraced the moment and enveloped Coco Gauff with electric drives in a declarative US Open statement victory.
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Charging through eight straight games, Osaka outclassed the 15-year-old American phenom, 6-3, 6-0, in a powerful performance to roar into the US Open fourth round.
“I think this is the most focused I’ve been since Australia,” Osaka told ESPN’s Mary Joe Fernandez after a 65-minute rout. “I’m sorry for playing you on this type of mentality. Thank you guys for coming out. The energy was crazy even though it wasn’t really for me.
“For me, I’ve watched (Coco) play and always thought she was incredible mover. And I thought I had to get going right off the bat—(it was an) incredible atmosphere.”
Osaka posted her 10th straight US Open victory and showed pure class embracing the American wild card in a heart-felt hug while insisting they conduct a joint post-match interview on court.
“I’m gonna cry,” Gauff said.
“No, you’re good,” replied Osaka, who was reduced to tears hearing boos and jeers from some fans on the same Arthur Ashe Stadium court after defeating Serena Williams in the controversial 2018 final.
On this night, the 21-year-old Osaka was both conqueror and consoler.
“She told me that I did amazing and then she asked if I could do on-court interview and I said no because I was gonna cry the whole time but she encouraged me to do it,” Gauff, wiping away tears from her eyes, told the crowd. “I mean it was amazing. She did amazing and I’m gonna learn a lot from this match.
“She’s been so sweet to me so thank you for this. I don’t want people to think I’m taking this moment away from you because she really deserves it.”
It was one of the most emotional matches of the tournament with both women shedding tears while moving some in the crowd to collective water works.
"I think she really showed sportsmanship tonight," Gauff said. "I mean, I wasn't expecting it. I'm glad I was able to exprience that moment. I'm glad that I was able to experience that moment. I'm glad the crowd was kind of helping me and her.
"She was crying, she won. I was crying. Everybody was crying. I was like, I don't know why she's crying. I was like, you won the match. Everybody was crying. But I think it was a good moment for both of us."
An act of compassion was instinctual for Osaka.
"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 of how young she was," Osaka said. "I was just thinking it would be nice for her to address the people that came and watched her play. They were cheering for her. I mean for me it was just something that was instinctual."
Bidding to become the youngest woman to defeat a world No. 1 since 1991 when Jennifer Capriati toppled Monica Seles in the San Diego final, Gauff ran hard, but couldn’t stay in step with the reigning champion who crushed shots with ruthless precision.
Riding her blistering serve and booming forehand, Osaka tripled Gauff’s winner total—24 to 8—and converted six of seven break-point chances in a 65-minute thrashing.
The enormity of playing her first match on the most massive Grand Slam stage in the sport—before an enthusiastic Saturday night crowd—gave Gauff jitters.
The engaging Floridian served 45 percent and spit up seven double faults in the face of an overwhelming Osaka, who must defend her title to retain the world No. 1 ranking.
Tonight, Osaka competed with the confidence and command of a world No. 1.
"I feel like when you play younger people, it's even more of a challenge because they fight," Osaka said. "I don't want to say this, but they fight harder...For me, I just kept telling myself to keep fighting. Literally, that's what I said during the match. I just kept saying fight, fight."
The American wild card sailed a forehand and hit a double fault to gift the break in her opening service games.
Osaka, who hit with Gauff a couple of years ago, came out buzzing her forehand into all corners. The reigning champion cracked seven winners in snatching a 3-0 lead.
Trying to string together positive games, Gauff sent a sharp-angled backhand return pushing the world No. 1 in pursuit. Gauff broke back in the fifth game.
The teenager is quicker around the court, but Osaka neutered that advantage straddling the baseline to take the ball earlier and force Gauff into scrambling responses behind the baseline.
Bending a pair of biting backhands crosscourt, Osaka put Gauff in defensive positions scoring her second break for 4-2. Anticipation and a fast first step helped Gauff force the top seed to play another shot. Osaka’s forehand tripped off the tape and strayed wide as she gave back the break in the seventh game.
Each time Gauff made a push in the opening set, Osaka answered with pure aggression.
The two-time Grand Slam champion scalded a couple of backhands working through her third break.
Serving for the set, Osaka punished a pair of down the line drives to seal the 36-minute opening set. Osaka was more effective changing direction as she more than tripled the teenager’s winner output—15 to 4—building her one-set lead.
The Gauff serve is a weapon, but her first serve went missing at the start of the second set.
Aiming to amp up her second serve in the face of Osaka’s pyrotechnic power, Gauff did not land a first serve in the first game of the second set and clanked another double fault donating serve.
Strong self belief fueled Osaka’s 2018 title run. Down double break point in the second game, Osaka stuck three shots off the sideline erasing the deficit and holding for 2-0 on successive Gauff errors.
Typically, the world No. 140 plays with substantial topspin off her forehand.
Tonight, Gauff, well aware of Osaka’s disruptive power, was striking the forehand flatter—and finding net more frequently. When Gauff splattered another shot into the middle of the net, Osaka collected her fifth consecutive game and a 3-0 second-set lead.
Her first of what should be many appearances on Arthur Ashe Stadium was a learning experience for Gauff.
"I think she trusts her strokes a lot, so that's why she hits winners," Gauff said. "In order to hit a winner, you have to trust that you're going to do it. I think I can work on that more."
Slashing successive aces down the middle—including a dagger that cut the center stripe—Osaka extended her lead to 4-0. Osaka closed an exceptional effort with that engaging embrace.
The dynamic combination of speed and power make Gauff an electrifying player and her poise and humanity make her an engaging presence.
On this night, Gauff was most impressive showing her humanity and humility in defeat.
"Obviously I was disappointed that I lost. There was a lot going on," Gauff said. "I was really trying to get off the court. Really, I don't like crying in front of people. But I'm glad that I was able to express that moment.
"I guess it shows that I'm human. I guess athletes in general just experience things, and we show emotion, good and bad. I think a lot of people see the more pumping up side of me, the more fiery side. I guess that side is good for other people to see. I'm glad I was able to experience that on the biggest stage. Maybe next time I'll have a different result. I really thank Naomi for that because it was a good moment for me."
The top seed takes on nemesis Belinda Bencic for a trip to the quarterfinals.
The 13th-seeded Swiss took a walkover into the fourth round as Anett Kontaveit pulled out with illness. Bencic has had Osaka's number this season dethroning the 2018 Indian Wells champion, 6-3, 6-1, in the Palm Springs round of 16 then fending off the Japanese, 3-6, 6-2, 7-5, in the Madrid quarterfinals.
"For me playing her is always super challenging," Osaka said of Bencic. "I'm unsure if I've ever won a match (against her)... I just expect a fight. She doesn't really ever give up. She kind of fights for every point. I know that's going to be a really difficult match for me."