"I don't think anyone should take advice from me" - Naomi Osaka laughs off idea of offering help to Coco Gauff on dealing with pressure at US Open
Naomi Osaka and Coco Gauff share something in common: both women won their first Grand Slam titles at the US Open. Their responses to winning their maiden Grand Slam titles, however, were vastly different.
While Osaka followed up her 2018 US Open triumph with another Grand Slam title at the 2019 Australian Open, Gauff has yet to replicate the success that propelled her to the championship in front of her home crowd last year.
During her pre-tournament press conference, Osaka was asked to share advice on how to cope with the pressure of a major victory. However, she dismissed the question with a laugh, saying that she is not someone who should be handing out advice.
"I'm laughing because I have been telling you guys for years, but I don't think anyone should take advice from me," the 26-year-old said.
Osaka expressed admiration for Gauff, six years her junior, commending the American's impressive achievements. She emphasized Gauff's career-high ranking attained this year, highlighting her consistent performance.
The former World No. 1 praised the defending champion's progress and her ability to navigate both on- and off-court challenges, noting that she enjoyed watching her development.
"I mean, I would say I think she's doing a great job," the the former World No. 1 said. "Like, she's really consistent. She's No. 2 right now, right? 3? That's still really good. I don't know. I just really enjoy watching her progress and her process."
"I feel like everyone's life is their own journey" - Naomi Osaka on watching Coco Gauff's growth
Sharing some valuable advice for Coco Gauff, Naomi Osaka emphasized that every player's journey is unique. The Japanese tennis star encouraged Gauff to maintain mental strength and persevere, suggesting that focusing too much on the outcome or end result might hinder her progress.
"I feel like everyone's life is their own journey, and it's fun to watch hers. It's the most, like, basic advice, but yeah, she should just keep going. She's got a really good head on her shoulders," Osaka said.
Osaka will kick off her US Open campaign against the formidable Jelena Ostapenko, a former French Open champion and the 11th seed. Gauff, on the other hand, will face Varvara Gracheva in her opening-round match.