Naomi Osaka consoled tearful Coco Gauff in tense US Open bout before heart-warming gesture

Naomi Osaka and Coco Gauff go back years.

As the pair get ready to battle for a place in the US Open quarterfinals on Monday, it calls to mind their first clash, which was back in 2019 and also in New York.

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So much has happened since Gauff played Osaka on Arthur Ashe Stadium as a 15-year-old six years ago.

Over that time, Gauff and Osaka have both won two Grand Slams each, but both have enjoyed wildly different journeys.

Osaka, a four-time major winner, took a career break to have a child in 2023 before she sparked a global conversation in tennis by sharing her experiences with anxiety and depression.

“Just to be at this point of my life and to be playing her again is, honestly, for me kind of special,” Osaka said when reflecting on the last few years.

While, Gauff picked up her first major in 2023 at the US Open before she picked up her second Grand Slam singles title at the French Open this year.

Gauff couldn’t stop crying after losing to Osaka

Osaka was just 21 and the defending champion when she played Gauff in that 2019 clash.

The American was playing just her second Grand Slam tournament and her first in New York.

She was easily beaten by Osaka in straight sets, but what made headlines was what happened after the last point.

Gauff was uncontrollably crying by her bench after completing her debut on the Arthur Ashe Stadium

So Osaka decided to walk over and console her before making an unusual request.

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She asked Gauff to address the crowd in an on-court interview – something which is highly unusual for the loser.

“She was crying, she won. I was crying. Everybody was crying!” said Gauff at the time. “I didn’t know why she was crying. I was like, ‘you won the match!’

“I was wanting to leave the court because I’m not the type of person who wants to cry in front of everyone.

“I didn’t want to take that moment away from her, as well.”

While Osaka at the time, explained she did it because Gauff reminded her of herself.

“It was kind of instinctive because when I shook her hand, I saw that she was kind of tearing up a little. Then it reminded me how young she was,” Osaka told reporters at the time.

“I was just thinking it would be nice for her to address the people that came and watched her play. They were cheering for her.”

What do Osaka and Gauff think of that moment, six years on?

Gauff remembers the pressure she felt going into that match, as she felt the hype despite being just 15 years old.

“I remember it was a tough moment for me, because it was a hyped-up match. I remember looking back at it,” Gauff told reporters this week.

“I guess I put way too much pressure on myself thinking I maybe had a chance in that moment to actually do something, which I definitely did but I think it was just I felt more expectation that I should, than maybe belief.”

While Osaka claims she knew the trajectory Gauff was on when they played all those years ago.

“I thought she just handled herself really well, and I knew she was going to be back there,” she said.

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Who has the advantage in 2025?

There’s no doubt, Gauff is the better player entering this match.

After a slow start after needing three sets to get past Ajla Tomljanovic in the first round, and then an emotional tiebreak to overcome Donna Vekic.

Gauff is playing her best tennis again after a stress-free win against Magdalena Frech.

“It’s been like an emotional week, but I think I needed those tough moments to move forward,” she said in her on-court interview.

“Overall, I’m really happy how I played and to be through to the next round.”

Although a Gauff win is not a foregone conclusion.

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There is a case for Osaka, who is playing in her first fourth-round at a Grand Slam since the Australian Open 2021 – a tournament she won.

Her tennis has improved in New York after she linked up with a new coach in Tomasz Wiktorowski, who used to work with six-time major winner Iga Swiatek.

Osaka’s serve has been her biggest weapon at the US Open, with Aryna Sabalenka, with 78, having more this Grand Slam season than Osaka’s 70.

She’s also been dangerous when returning second serves, something which will put pressure on Gauff, who can sometimes struggle with double faults.

What we can expect at the very least is great tennis from two of the sport’s finest players.