Naomi Osaka has seen it all in her young yet successful tennis career. After winning her fourth Grand Slam title at the 2021 Australian Open, Osaka was one of the hot favorites to win her maiden French Open title last year. However, she withdrew from the tournament midway after suffering from mental health issues.

Subsequently, many fellow players on the tour voiced their support for Osaka. Amongst them was the American sensation, Coco Gauff. Recently, Osaka was full of praise for Gauff while remembering the support she received from the American during her tough times.

Naomi Osaka heaps praise on Coco Gauff

During the post-match interview after her second-round defeat against Gauff at the Silicon Valley Classic in San Jose, the Japanese star talked highly about Gauff. Osaka said, “She’s very much a star. It’s very clear. She’s very important to the game. After RG last year when I withdrew, she was the 1st player to message me and I’ve never forgotten that. I have so much love for her and I think she behaves well beyond her age.”

READ MORE: ‘Would Be Like Federer and Nadal’ – American Sensation Coco Gauff Makes a Big Statement About Her Rivalry With Naomi Osaka Ahead of Their Blockbuster Matchup

It was a dominating performance by Gauff against Osaka. She began the match brightly, taking the first set 6-4. Further, she continued the momentum into the second set, winning it by a similar margin as the first set to advance into the next round.

What did Gauff say about Osaka’s French Open 2021 withdrawal?

After the four-time Grand Slam champion withdrew from Roland Garros 2021 before her second-round match, due to her deteriorating mental-health condition, Gauff said, “For me, I just feel like mental health is a dear subject to me. I don’t really know the details of it [Osaka’s situation] but I did send her a public message and then also a message in private.”

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Meanwhile, Gauff will take on the second seed, Paula Badosa in the quarterfinals of the Silicon Valley Classic. Can Gauff prevail in San Jose? Let us know your views in the comments below.