Gauff Praises Osaka For Showing 'It's Ok To Put Certain Things Above Our Sport'

Tuesday, 02 August 2022 at 20:30

Updated at Monday, 21 October 2024 at 04:31

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byJordan Reynolds

Coco Gauff has praised Naomi Osaka for speaking about mental health, feeling it has helped other athletes to prioritize their well-being.

Gauff will play Osaka in the round of 16 at the Silicon Valley Classic if both women manage to win their opening-round matches in California. The number of upsets on the WTA Tour this year proves that is not guaranteed.

It would be a blockbuster matchup if it happens. Osaka's power versus Osaka's outstanding athleticism strikes an ideal balance for seeing great attack and defense throughout the contest.

Their meeting at the Cincinnati Open last year demonstrated how well their styles complement each other to create entertainment. After one of the most thrilling battles of the 2021 season, Osaka prevailed 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.

However, Gauff respects Osaka's work off the court regardless of who is dominant in their rivalry on it. The Japanese star is known for speaking openly and honestly about her mental health struggles.

Gauff feels some athletes realized it is okay to put certain things above sport when Osaka spoke about the topic. She praised her and Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles for putting their mental health first.

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"Watching her with mental health made a lot of athletes take a step back and realize that it’s okay to put certain things above our sport. I feel like we were used to being told that was wrong."

"So, it was nice to see her and Simone Biles put mental health first. I’m glad that she’s a representation of tennis, a representation of our sport. I always like seeing her. When I lost to her in Cincinnati (last year), I told her, ‘Keep doing what you’re doing."

It is nice that Gauff respects Osaka's actions off the court, and there will undoubtedly be respect between the two excellent players if they meet at the Silicon Valley Classic.