
On Saturday, team Japan player Naomi Osaka was able to defend her US Open title against 15-year-old American US Open newcomer Coco Gauff — 6-3, 6-0 on Saturday to advance to round 16. After the match, Naomi Osaka is seen approaching Gauff, and embracing her in a tender moment between competitors.
Osaka asks a weeping Gauff to do the interview at the end of the game with her, assuring the younger player of her talent, and that "it's better than going into the shower and crying." And many applauded this display of not just sponsorship, but solidarity and respect between two young black women at the top of their game. Gauff put on a brave face, and with Osaka by her side did the on-camera interview.
❤️🎾 @Naomi_Osaka_ | @CocoGauff #USOpen https://t.co/ouVQenQki6— US Open Tennis (@US Open Tennis) 1567297796.0
Gauff acknowledged and thanked Osaka for convincing her to do the interview. "[Naomi] was amazing, and I'm going to learn a lot from this match. She's been so sweet to me, so thank you for this," she said.
You need to watch this immediately. https://t.co/yG7xjpWr5L— Alexis Benveniste (@Alexis Benveniste) 1567302181.0
Osaka and Gauff continued to show support and love for each other online, with Osaka tweeting and tagging Coco, "Keep your head up, you've got so much to be proud of." The latter responded with a retweet, saying, "Thank you! You are a class act. I appreciate your support #rolemodel."
Thank you! You are a class act. I appreciate your support #rolemodel https://t.co/aU9e1uVwjK— Coco Gauff (@Coco Gauff) 1567343092.0
Tennis legend Billie Jean King was among those who praised Osaka and Grauff, as well as Canada's Bianca Andreescu and America's Taylor Townsend. She tweeted, "Proud of the new generation of women tennis players, @Naomi_Osaka_, @CocoGauff, @Bandreescu_, @TaylorTownsend, and others for competing hard on the court, and empowering & supporting each other off the court. It's a throwback to the 1960-70s."
Congratulations to @Naomi_Osaka_, who showed greatness on and off the court. @CocoGauff now knows what she needs to… https://t.co/CNcbTmpTMx— Billie Jean King (@Billie Jean King) 1567298631.0
Proud of the new generation of women tennis players, @Naomi_Osaka_, @CocoGauff, @Bandreescu_, @TaylorTownsend, and… https://t.co/Kf95d9jAu2— Billie Jean King (@Billie Jean King) 1567365675.0
See more reactions to the touching moment below.
Wow. What a moment. These two women, @Naomi_Osaka_ & @CocoGauff, set an example for the world last night. This is… https://t.co/cLlxsMswwo— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) 1567356766.0
Naomi Osaka is a Libra. That’s all you need to know.— roxane gay (@roxane gay) 1567371042.0
I loved what I saw on court with @Naomi_Osaka_ and @CocoGauff ! This is the beauty of sports! You guys are amazing! ❤️👏🏾— Taylor Townsend (@Taylor Townsend) 1567302572.0
Class act @Naomi_Osaka_ . That was very special to watch. Tennis is going to be lit for a long time! #USOpen2019— Kelley O'Hara (@Kelley O'Hara) 1567298194.0
.@Naomi_Osaka_ consoles @CocoGauff and asked the 15-year-old to join her for the post game interview. This is what… https://t.co/5owC74u1b2— Karine Jean-Pierre (@Karine Jean-Pierre) 1567340731.0
Young Queens! The Future is promising. 👑👑 #Love 🖤 #Unity 💪🏾 #Respect ✊🏿 #Integrity ✊🏾 #CocoGauff #NaomiOsaka https://t.co/o1bYbZfyu1— Larenz Tate (@Larenz Tate) 1567318720.0
After all the ugliness, violence, political mean-spiritedness and callousness witnessed this week in the US this fe… https://t.co/5zVlSTlU4u— Holly Robinson Peete (@Holly Robinson Peete) 1567348696.0
Image via Getty
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