Coco Gauff performs touching gesture as Naomi Osaka retires injured in China Open clash | Tennis | Sport

Coco Guaff showed her true colours towards fellow WTA Tour star Naomi Osaka following the pair’s China Open clash.

Osaka had raced ahead during the round-of-16 tie in Beijing, winning the first set 6-3.

Guaff fought back immediately in the second, taking a two-point lead during what looked like being a simple set victory for the American.

Osaka did level things up at 2-2, before eventually taking a 4-3 lead, but Guaff’s quality prevailed in the end, with the 2023 US Open champion winning the set 6-4.

However, with the appetite whet for what was gearing up to be a stellar deciding set, Osaka announced she was retiring at 1-1 because of a lower back injury, meaning Guaff was handed the victory and a spot in the last eight.

It didn’t stop a classy Gauff from assisting the injured Osaka off-court, with the pair sharing a warm embrace, before the victorious 20-year-old helped carry her opponent’s equipment.

Understandably, tennis fans were left in awe of Gauff’s actions, with the Atlanta-born star praised for her gesture.

@LeDerius commented: “The sweetest moment after Naomi Osaka was forced to retire from her match against Coco Gauff. Good to see sportsmanship like this!”

Speaking after the contest, Gauff claimed: “It was a good match up until this point. I wish Naomi a speedy recovery. No one wants to win a match like this.

“Especially at 1 set all. Overall I tried my best. It wasn’t my best tennis. It was one of those matches where you try your best each point.”

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