Teenage sensation Coco Gauff has become the youngest player to defeat a top five opponent since 1991 after knocking reigning champion Naomi Osaka out of the Australian Open.
Gauff, who is making her debut in Melbourne, showed little signs of nerves throughout her milestone 6-3, 6-4, win. The most high-profile of her career to date. Despite her lack of experience, it was Osaka who was the more erratic of the two. The Japanese player leaked a total of 30 unforced errors, which amounted to 50% of the points Gauff won in the match. The teenager also won 76% of her first service points and 64% of second.
“Two years ago I lost the first round of the (Australian Open) juniors and now I’m here. This is crazy.” Gauff commented on her Australian Open run.
“I was just telling myself one point at a time and to keep fighting because you never know what happens on the court.”
Compared to their clash at the US Open last year, there was a different feel to this match. Underdog Gauff looked more determined and less intimidated on the court by the two-time grand slam champion. A sign of her rapid growth on the tour at such a young age. With both players matching each early on in the opener, Gauff secured her first breakthrough eight games in. Two consecutive Osaka backhand errors enabled the American to break for a 5-3 lead. Prompting huge shout of ‘come on’ from the teenager. Rapidly gaining momentum, she clinched then 6-3 lead with the help of a love service game.
Trading breaks at the start of the second frame, Gauff to continued to capitalize on the mistakes that was coming from across the court. Much to the displeasure of Osaka, who was far from her best. Easing to a game away from the biggest win of her career, Gauff faced her only blip in the encounter when she was broken whilst leading 5-3. However, a lacklustre Osaka was still no match for the American who sealed victory in the following game after a forehand from her opponent slammed into the net.
“Her serve is way better than I played her last year.” A disappointed Osaka reflected in her press conference.
“It’s hard because you learn more when you lose. The winner doesn’t really learn that much. I feel like I wasn’t really swinging freely and she was.”
The teenage prodigy is still getting used to life on the tour and is still restricted to how many tournaments she can play under rules set out by the WTA. Joking after her win over Osaka that the deadline for her homework assignments has been delayed ‘because of the circumstances.’
In the last 16, Gauff will play either compatriot Sofia Kenin or China’s Zhang Shuai. Star struck by her latest achievement, when asked about the upcoming match she at first innocently replied ‘right now, I don’t care.’
“Kenin, I’ve been seeing her. We used to train at the same place years ago. I don’t remember. And also Zhang she’s a great player and puts a lot of balls into place.” She previewed.
Gauff is the youngest player to defeat a member of the top five since Jennifer Capriati at the 1991 US Open.
