'I Have An Age Problem': Naomi Osaka After Losing To Coco Gauff

Fifteen-year-old Cori Gauff got the better of number four seeded and reigning champion of Australian Open - Naomi Osaka in straight-sets 6-3, 6-4. The 22-year-old Osaka was upset that she lost to the youngest player in the women’s draw. The two-time Grand Slam said, “I have an age problem. I don’t like to lose to people younger than me and take this very personally,” World Number four Osaka reflected after her loss. “It was one of those days where I couldn’t do anything right.”

“Also didn’t have that champion mentality of still finding a way to win. It’s hard. You just don’t want to lose to a 15-year-old. It’s kind of a reality check for me. She deserved to be here, won her matches. But I just have to play better – practice harder. I get overwhelmed and I don’t really know what to do in that situation,” she added.

“You don’t want to lose to a 15-year-old, you know?” World number four Naomi Osaka claimed after losing to Gauff, the 15-year-old phenomenon, who won in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4.

Gauff — ranked 67th — on the other hand, was amused to win the battle against a much experienced and was savouring the moment. She expressed, “I think I was more in disbelief,” she said, referring not just to the pressure of playing the reigning champion. “I didn’t really know what to do. I was just trying to enjoy the moment and savour the moment. I still wouldn’t say I’m used to this,” she added.

“I still have a long way to go” – Naomi Osaka

Key Takeaways:

• Reigning champion Naomi Osaka lost in straight-sets 6-3, 6-4 to the teenage sensation Cori Gauff. 
• The American tennis prodigy is ranked 67th, who also knocked out Venus Williams, a former No 1, earlier at the tournament.
• The 22-year-old Osaka was upset that she lost to the youngest player in the women’s draw.
• The two-time Grand Slam said, “I have an age problem. I don’t like to lose to people younger than me and take this very personally,” World Number four Osaka reflected after her loss. “It was one of those days where I couldn’t do anything right.”

Gauff became the youngest player in the professional era to eliminate the reigning women’s champion at the Australian Open, beating former No. 1 Naomi Osaka 6-3, 6-4 in the third round at Melbourne Park on Friday.

It is particularly difficult for Osaka as she also failed to defend the 2000 points of her of last year from Melbourne’s win. Osaka will be ranked number nine in the world. “I don’t really have the champion mentality yet, which is, like, someone that can deal with not playing 100%. And I have always wanted to be like that, but I guess I still have a long way to go,” the Japanese added.

READ: 83-Yr-Old Granny Is A Tennis Champ

Osaka and former Australian Open champions Serena Williams and Caroline Wozniacki ended their run at the Melbourne major 2020. The rising tennis star Coco Gauff will now face the winner of Sofia Kenin vs Zhang Shuai in the fourth round of Aussie Open.

READ: Why Don’t We Celebrate Our International Para-Athlete Champions?

Feature Image Credit: Tennis.com

Read More Stories By Ria Das