Coco Gauff vs. Naomi Osaka is the matchup we have been ready for
D’Arcy MaineESPN
NEW YORK — Cori “Coco” Gauff stood within the heart of Louis Armstrong Stadium as a near-capacity crowd of 14,00zero appeared on in adoration. The 15-year outdated had simply gained an epic three-set thriller over Timea Babos within the second spherical, and now ESPN’s Tom Rinaldi was asking her about her subsequent match.
“Lots of people had circled on the draw who your subsequent opponent is: the defending champion Naomi Osaka.”
Earlier than Gauff had an opportunity to reply, the gang started to boo. Transient however loud, the jeers left little doubt who they’d be rooting for on Saturday.
giggled nervously. “What is the query?” she requested as she glanced round.
“What are your early ideas on that matchup?”
“I haven’t got any ideas on it proper now as a result of I’ve to play doubles tomorrow with Caty [McNally] and I am actually centered on that,” she stated diplomatically. “I do not even know what at the moment is. What’s at the moment? Thursday? So Saturday I am going to consider the match.”
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Gauff might say she will not be fascinated by the match, however that actually will not cease everybody else in tennis from speaking about it incessantly. It is a tantalizing narrative: The teenage wonderkid takes on the slightly-older wonderkid who herself performed giantslayer simply final 12 months on the exact same courtroom the place they seemingly will play.
Since her unimaginable run at Wimbledon in July, Gauff has captivated even probably the most informal of tennis followers together with her fearless play and joyful vitality. On the US Open, she has grow to be the youngest lady to succeed in the Spherical of 32 since Anna Kournikova in 1996, and the youngest American lady since Jennifer Capriati in 1991. And Gauff appears to be like to maintain her magical summer season going and make historical past in Queens.
However it’s going to take greater than poise or athleticism to beat Osaka, 21, on Saturday. No lady within the Open Period has ever defeated a participant who was each the No. 1 seed and defending champion of their debut at a given main in 67 makes an attempt.
The 2 have by no means performed one another, however have identified one another for a number of years and hit collectively as soon as two years in the past earlier than the Miami Open. Their fathers are pals and speak usually. The respect between them appears real, and they’re desperate to see how they examine on the courtroom.
“Clearly she’s a tremendous participant,” Gauff stated of Osaka throughout her post-match information convention. “We’re each fairly younger, however I am a bit of bit newer to the sport. So I am simply curious to see how my sport matches up towards her. Clearly I need to win.”
“She’s tremendous candy and I might like to play her, after all,” stated Osaka on Thursday, earlier than Gauff had secured her spot. “After I hear individuals speaking about somebody, I would like the chance to play them simply to evaluate it for myself. You recognize what I imply?”
She’ll get her want, however she in all probability wasn’t anticipating animosity from the gang. Then once more, she in all probability wasn’t anticipating that final 12 months both. For Osaka, listening to boos at Arthur Ashe Stadium, the place the matchup will presumably be performed on Saturday, will probably be nothing new.
Throughout her first Grand Slam last throughout the 2018 US Open, she beat her longtime hero Serena Williams in some of the controversial matches in match historical past. Williams was enjoying in her second main last since coming back from childbirth and in search of her record-tying 24th Grand Slam title. The gang very a lot needed to see her do exactly that, and as a substitute watched her obtain three questionable code violations. By the point the match was over and Osaka emerged victorious in straight units, the gang was confused and indignant, and made their displeasure identified. Osaka hoisted the trophy in tears.
This 12 months was presupposed to be totally different. Over the previous 12 months, Osaka gained one other main title on the Australian Open, took over World No. 1 and have become some of the recognizable and marketable tennis gamers on the earth, a participant who represents Japan however is equally beloved in the US. She at the moment lives in Florida, like Gauff, however spent most of her childhood in New York. In some methods, she’s much more of a hometown hero than Gauff. However now it appears she’ll discover herself because the villain as soon as once more on the game’s greatest stage.
Will that cease Osaka from beating Gauff? In all probability not. Both manner, Saturday guarantees to be the spectacle we have all been ready for. Two of tennis’ brightest younger stars will probably be on present, foreshadowing a rivalry that might simply dominate the last decade to return.