Coco Gauff shines in 2nd round gain over Naomi Osaka in front of sold-out San Jose group

SAN JOSE — Coco Gauff was providing her on-court docket interview just after beating Naomi Osaka in straight sets and referred to Osaka and herself as “the future” of tennis.

Gauff then paused and reassessed: “Actually, I really do not know — the future is possibly presently listed here.”

It confident felt “here” in San Jose on Thursday evening, as Gauff defeated Osaka 6-4, 6-4 in front of a sold-out group of 2,250 at the Mubadala Silicon Valley Typical.

A crowd that had a recognizable desire for Osaka as a substitute noticed the 18-yr-outdated American place on a present. Gauff landed her 1st serve 58% of the time and then gained those factors an astonishing 85% of the time.

Gauff confirmed some sterling protection on the night, breaking Osaka 3 moments and successful 29 points when returning provide. In the second set, Gauff received 5 online games in a row to create what felt like an insurmountable direct — and could have produced the evening a rapid 1.

It would have been an understandable final result for Osaka. It was just her second match since dropping in the to start with round of the French Open in late May perhaps, as she missed the whole grass courtroom time battling an Achilles injuries. The 24-year-old even admitted right after she won her to start with spherical match in 3 sets on Tuesday that she didn’t treatment if she won that match, as she was a lot more targeted on finding the entertaining in her sport all over again.

Even in defeat, there were moments wherever she evidently was making the most of herself. But the takeaway that could scare the relaxation of the players on tour is the battle she showed soon after giving away the two breaks in the second established.

Osaka dug herself a 5-1 gap, then went down -40 to give Gauff three match points, but Osaka fought all the way again to deuce. She then gave a fourth match issue absent, but recovered once more and gained the sport.

With Gauff most likely a bit flustered, Osaka got her very first crack of the match to make it 5-3, only to give away three straight factors yet again to set her back in a -40 hole all over again. But Osaka once once more defended all a few match points, bought the benefit and nailed an ace to just take the recreation and give a incredibly enthusiastic yell with it.

“It’s exceptional that anyone comes again from down 40-really like two times, but it’s Naomi,” Gauff mentioned.