Naomi Osaka hits top gear, topples French Open champion Coco Gauff
In tennis, the underdog being ready to bark and bit becomes a big story. So, at the Arthur Ashe Stadium on Monday evening in New York, it was time for former champion Naomi Osaka to scalp third seed Coco Gauff 6-3, 6-2 to enter the quarter-finals. Needing just an hour and few minutes to fashion one of the big upsets has brought back life into Osaka as well as women’s tennis, which provides so many twists and turns at the Majors. After all, a day earlier, Elena Rybakina losing was also not really on the cards.
Back to Osaka, she was a champion who had soared to the top of the charts over seven years ago. When she arrived in the United States of America at age 3, which, in the past, was easily one of the easiest destinations to be in, Osaka had learnt most of her tennis there. Born to a Haitian and Japanese parent, she had done well to equip herself with good tennis skills. Proof of it came during the 2018/19 period, when she started peaking at the Majors.
To win four Grand Slam titles, sign big endorsement deals, she was successful. And yet, when she chose to represent Japan in the Tokyo Olympics during the dark days of the Covid pandemic, it was her choice. After all, she could have pressed for a spot in the American team as well. The story goes, she was promised plenty ‘in return’ by Japan, though tennis and the Olympics is more about passion, wanting to do it for the nation and win that big medal.
What happened to Naomi Osaka after the highs, when she decided to have a child with rapper Cordae in 2023 is well chronicled. Moms in tennis have done well on return post-partum, which is the medical jargon for return to tennis after delivery. One heard more from Osaka about her child Shai than tennis. Acceptable that, since motherhood changes women tennis players phenomenally. The big surprise of all was when Osaka made a faster return to tennis than many of her predecessors like Kim Clijsters and even Super Mom Serena Wiliiams. Osaka was ready to ‘hit’ so soon on the courts after Shai was born in July 2023.
There was no way she was going to settle into the same rhythm, same groove. It was tough for Naomi in the years of return, by which time another bunch of ladies had started hitting big and grabbing headlines. Osaka, too, did hit the headlines, when she had that famous meltdown at the French Open when she refused to do the mandatory press conferences. Mental health is a serious issue and not offered as an excuse. When Osaka spoke about it in detail, there was massive support for her from former players.
Why this topic is relevant now, she has conquered the inner demons, so to say. Hear her speak, she is waxing eloquent, no trace of any arrogance. This fortnight at the US Open has been a rebirth of sorts for Osaka, who turns 28 next month. At five feet and 11 inches, the effort she has put in to get her game back together is a master class of sorts. After all, to defeat French Open Coco Gauff in straight sets was massive, where the ability to serve hard and consistent and also rally stood out. Perhaps, a hint of Osaka returning to top-flight tennis was provided in Montreal, when she competed very spiritedly against Elina Svitolina. It defined her tennis, engaging in rallies.
In New York, at the season’s last Grand Slam, Osaka has worked her way in the draw very smartly. Proof if it came in the third round when she bolted past Daria Kasatkina from Australia in a three-set roller-coaster. That match did provide more than a hint, Naomi Osaka was hitting the overdrive button, Notably, what stands out today is she does not speak with attitude or arrogance. This looks more like maturity and wanting to be seen as a performer who is being humble. Osaka did say, on court, after that win against Kasatkina, she would want support and love from fans against Gauff, since she is an American.
Well, if someone wanted support or help on court on Monday night, it was Gauff, not Osaka. The underdog enjoyed the big stage, she knows what it is to be playing in that kind of an atmosphere where the crowd is noisy, but not rude. Back to statistics, this entry into the last eight of a Grand Slam comes after four years. The improvement has been visible and Osaka will build on it, looking not just at this year but the next season as well.
“I'm a little sensitive, I don't want to cry. I had so much fun out here," Osaka said after the match on Monday night. "I was in the stands two months after giving birth to my daughter watching Coco and I really wanted an opportunity to come out and play. It's my favourite court in the world and it means so much to be back out here,” added Osaka.
