‘I don’t know where that came from,’ says Coco Gauff as she takes down Naomi Osaka on Rod Laver Arena

Australian Open
Coco Gauff in dream land

Coco Gauff’s star continues to rise as the teenager gunned down defending champion Naomi Osaka at the Australian Open on Friday.

On a day of upsets in the women’s draw that saw former champions Serena Williams and Caroline Wozniacki ousted, Gauff accounted for 2019 winner Osaka’s demise as she produced yet another mature display.

The 15-year-old, who has made it to the third round of her three maiden Grand Slam tournaments, stunned the two-time major winner 6-3, 6-4 in one hour and seven minutes on Rod Laver Arena to avenge the defeat she suffered at the US Open in September.

The first break point of the match came in game eight and Gauff made it stick and then served out the set in the next game.

After both players dropped serve in the opening two games of the second set, the American got an opportunity to edge ahead again in game seven. She wasted the first break point, but made no mistake with the second one.

Serving for the match, she raced into a 40-0 lead and then calmly got the job done on her first match point.

“I don’t know where that came from,” Gauff said after her victory. “Honestly, like, what is my life? two years ago I lost first round in juniors and now I’m here!

“I was telling myself one point at a time and keep fighting. You never know what happens on this court.

“I love it down here, oh my gosh! Thank you guys from the bottom of my heart. I’m on the Rod Laver Arena! I can’t believe it!

“I’ve walked past Rod Laver a couple of times in the hallway but I’ve never met him- if he sees this, tell him we can set up a meeting sometime. I need a selfie for Instagram!”

Gauff will face either fellow American and 14th seed Sofia Kenin or China’s Zhang Shaui for a place in the quarter-final.

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Coco Gauff Naomi Osaka

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