MELBOURNE (Australia): Unseeded Coco Gauff lived up to her expectations as giant-killer after she upset reigning champion Naomi Osaka in straight sets at the Australian Open on Friday.
The 15-year-old, making her debut this year, beat the third seed 6-3, 6-4 in the third round to avenge her heavy defeat at last year’s US Open.
The youngest player in the draw will play 14th seed Sofia Kenin of the United States or China’s Zhang Shuai.
“Oh my gosh. Two years ago I lost the first round in the juniors and now I’m here — this is crazy,” said Gauff.
“I was just telling myself one point at a time and just keep fighting because you never know what happens on this court.”
Coco Gauff
The teenager, who spent time training with Serena Williams in the off-season, had said she would be less nervous and more aggressive this time round.
And so it proved as they rattled through the first five games in barely 15 minutes at the 15,000-capacity Rod Laver Arena.
Osaka fired into the net to drop serve in game eight and then racked up more unforced errors in gifting Gauff the first set in 32 minutes.
Gauff, ranked 67 is fast making a name for herself as the most exciting prospect in women’s tennis.
The young American carried the momentum into the first game of the second set, breaking a subdued and rattled Osaka, a two-time Grand Slam champion.
Serena crashes out
But veteran Serena Williams sensationally crashed out as tennis got a glimpse of its past and future on Friday.
Williams’ bid for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam was halted by the unlikely figure of China’s Wang Qiang, who triumphed in three tough sets — after winning just one game when they played at the US Open in September.
Gauff announced herself to the sporting world at Wimbledon last year when, as a qualifier, she stunned Venus Williams in the first round.
She did the same thing to the seven-time Grand Slam champion on her Melbourne debut this week, then came back from a set and 3-0 down to defeat Sorana Cirstea on Wednesday.
