Coco Gauff shows class with kind gesture when Naomi Osaka is forced to retire midway through match

Coco Gauff showed her class by helping Naomi Osaka off court after she retired midway through their match.

The two were playing for a place in the China Open quarter-final and with the scores tied at one set apiece, clash was ready to go to a final set when Osaka opted to withdraw.

3 Gauff showed her class by helping Osaka after she retired from their contest Credit: Getty

This was due to an injury to her lower back that had caused her discomfort throughout the glamour match.

After winning the first set, Osaka's pain started to increase during the second set, allowing Gauff to level proceedings.

When the decision was announced, Gauff approached Osaka and gave her a hug before sharing some kind words as she packed up her belongings.

The 20-year-old American then picked up the biggest of Osaka's bags and offered to carry the smaller one as well, before helping the Japanese star off the court to applause from those in attendance.

While it meant that Gauff secured her spot in the final four of the competition, it was clear that the one-time grand slam winner's biggest concern was for her friend.

Gauff and Osaka’s friendship goes back five years to when the American was just 15 and faced the Japanese star in the third round of the US Open.

Osaka, who was only 21 at the time herself, was a two-time major champion and took just 66 minutes to beat the teenager 6-3, 6-0.

But instead of basking in her victory, the Japanese star showed her class by consoling a young Gauff who was in floods of tears.

Speaking after the match, Gauff said: “I was crying. She was crying. Everybody was crying.

“She was crying and she won. I was like, ‘You won the match.’”

Even after a comprehensive victory, Osaka knew she had seen something special on the opposite side of the net.

3 The American and Osaka's friendship goes back several years Credit: Getty

3 Osaka and Gauff met in an emotional US Open contest in 2019 and have been friends ever since

“Because we’re so young, I feel of course we’re going to play multiple times in the future,” the four-time Grand Slam champ said.

“I’m not necessarily looking forward to that. But it will be fun for you guys to watch.’’

Osaka has endured a difficult 2024 after returning to tennis following the birth of her first child.

Coco Gauff shows her rise in tennis from 15-years-old and reveals how she was heavily inspired by Serena Williams

A first round exit at the Australian Open was followed up by second round eliminations at both Wimbledon and the French Open, with her retirement in China summing up a frustrating year.

As a result, Osaka is currently ranked at number 73 in the WTA rankings.

Gauff came into 2024 with huge pressure around her after winning the US Open last year.

However while reaching the semi-finals of the Australian Open and French Open, she suffered disappointing fourth round exits at Wimbledon and the US Open, leaving her ranked sixth by the WTA.

She did, however, come out victorious in the French Open doubles alongside Katerina Siniakova.

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