Audio By Carbonatix
American teenager Coco Gauff stunned defending champion Naomi Osaka in straight sets to reach the fourth round of the Australian Open.
The 15-year-old excelled at the Rod Laver Arena and eased to a 6-3 6-4 victory in 67 minutes
Osaka, the world number four, struggled with unforced errors throughout - making 30 compared to Gauff's 17.
"I don't know where that came from," the American said after the match. "Honestly, like, what is my life?"
"Two years ago I lost in the first round in juniors and now I'm here," Gauff added.
"I was telling myself one point at a time and keep fighting. You never know what happens on this court."
Gauff will play either China's Zhang Shaui or American Sofia Kenin in the fourth round.
It was an uncharacteristically slow start for Japan's Osaka who had won the pair's only previous meeting at last year's US Open.
The 22-year-old could not contain Gauff in the first set, especially when the American was on serve. Gauff completed 81% of her first serves compared to Osaka's 61%.
Despite Gauff making the quicker start, the pair each held serve until the ninth game when the American seized her opportunity.
An easy backhand miss from Osaka gave Gauff break point and it was another backhand error that gave the American the break which she held on to to take the first set 6-3.
The 15-year-old broke the Osaka serve again at the start of the second set, but could not hold for 2-0, allowing the defending champion to break back.
But unforced errors continued to flow from the Japanese player and Gauff broke again to lead 4-3.
She served for the match and Osaka sent three straight returns long before hitting match point into the net, handing Gauff victory in the simplest of fashions.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
Botswana government fulfil house promise to 200m Paris Olympics gold medallist Tebogo
6 minutes -
Wode Maya: Africa’s cultural diplomat championing tourism through digital storytelling
8 minutes -
UESD @5: Seth Terkper hails rapid growth but warns infrastructure gaps are slowing progress
9 minutes -
Ghana retains 6th position in RMBs “Where to Invest in Africa” 2025/26 rankings
14 minutes -
Roads Minister warns board against misuse of Road Maintenance Trust Fund
16 minutes -
Ghana’s Black Stars to face South Africa on December 16 in friendly
19 minutes -
Gov’t undertakes independent audit as Road Fund faces GH¢8bn debt burden
19 minutes -
Bagbin calls for unity and integrity in Ghana’s Parliament
22 minutes -
BoG pumps $10bn into forex market to aid cedi’s stability
26 minutes -
Graduate nurses and midwives gear up for protest over 5-year unemployment stall
34 minutes -
Illicit flows bleed Ghana dry: How billions lost are crippling science education and local research
35 minutes -
DVLA launches rollout of new number plates in Oti region
39 minutes -
Ghana Water takes defaulters in Eastern region to court over GHC32 million debt
39 minutes -
Advancing Ghana’s Public Health Act: Multi-Sector Wins Through Harm Reduction
44 minutes -
Economist Godfred Bokpin slams Ghana’s ‘talk show country’ mentality
47 minutes
