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Coco Gauff wished Naomi Osaka a happy upcoming comeback and also told the Japanese tennis star she is looking forward to seeing her again competing on the Tour. Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, was in the stands for Gauff's 6-4 7-5 win over Karolina Muchova in the US Open semifinal.
Osaka, who recently welcomed her first child, won't play any tournaments this year but she is expected to make a comeback at the start of the 2024 season. “I did not notice she was sitting here until now but, I mean, thanks for coming.
I mean Naomi, I remember the moment we had on this court, I don't even remember like three years ago and it meant a lot me. I'm so excited to have you back on tour and hopefully, you know, I get to meet your daughter. So thank you so much for coming and hi to your mom too as well,” Gauff said in her on-court interview.
Osaka dropped major praise on Gauff
On Wednesday, Osaka arrived at the US Open as she was scheduled to speak in a mental health forum alongside American swimming legend Michael Phelps.
After the event, Osaka dropped some major praise on Gauff, saying the 19-year-old American is someone she would want to be a role model for her daughter Shai. "I don't know if I would be bold enough to say I mentored her but I’m always really proud of everything that she does.
She seems like such a good person. Just everything that she’s doing and speaking out about so many different topics. I think it’s something that I'd love to have my kid to look up to her as a role model. Just seeing her doing well in her home Grand Slam is really cool. I cheer for her every match she plays," Osaka told ESPN when asked about Gauff on Wednesday.