Coco Gauff is being praised for her sportsmanship after she walked off the court with an injured Naomi Osaka at the China Open.
The fourth round match was set to go into a third set after Gauff won the second set 6-4 (Osaka won the first set 6-3), but the Japan-born player was forced to retire with a lower back injury.
And Gauff was extremely classy towards her opponent as she gave her a hug and offered to carry her bag off the court.
The world No. 6 also asked Osaka if she was okay before accompanying her as they left the court together.
Fans were hugely touched by the exchange and took to X to express their approval.
Coco Gauff walked off the court with Naomi Osaka in China after she retired with an injury
Gauff could be heard offering to carry Osaka’s bags for her after she injured her back
‘She is a true hero,’ one wrote.
‘This is the sweetest moment,’ another said.
‘When my 6 year old daughter asks me about role models… this is the sort of thing I will show her. Classy classy lady @CocoGauff,’ a third added.
And a fourth said, ‘Both of these women are class off and on the court.’
Gauff will now face Ukrainian Yulia Starodubtsewa in the quarterfinals of the tournament.
Osaka, meanwhile, missed the 2023 season due to maternity leave but is beginning to show glimpses of the ability that has made her a four-time Grand Slam champion.
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.
