Coco Gauff has been praised for her sportsmanship after walking off court with an injured Naomi Osaka at the China Open.
The fourth round match was going to go to the third set after Gauff won the second 6-4. Osaka had taken the first set 6-3, but the Japanese-born player was soon forced to retire with a lower back injury.
After securing her place in the quarterfinals, Gauff gave her opponent a hug and offered to carry her bag off the court.
The world No. 6 also asked Osaka if she was okay before escorting her off the court.
Fans were very touched by the exchange and took to social media to praise Gauff.
Coco Gauff walked off court with Naomi Osaka in China after she withdrew due to injury
Gauff could be heard offering to carry Osaka’s bags after she hurt her back.
“She is a true hero,” one wrote. “This is the sweetest moment,” said another.
‘When my 6-year-old daughter asks me about role models… these are the kinds of things I’ll show her. Classy and classy lady @CocoGauff,” a third added.
“Both women have class on and off the court,” said a fourth.
Gauff will now face Ukraine’s Yulia Starodubtsewa in the quarterfinals of the tournament.
Osaka, meanwhile, missed the 2023 season due to maternity leave, but is beginning to show flashes of the skill that earned her four Grand Slam titles.
She comfortably beat then-world No. 10 Jelena Ostapenko in the first round of the US Open and beat world No. 21 Yulia Putintseva on Friday in China.
