In a sweet — but uncommon — show of sportsmanship and friendship in tennis, Coco Gauff helped opponent Naomi Osaka off the court after the Japanese star was forced to forfeit due to a back injury.
During the China Open on Tuesday, Oct. 1, Osaka retired in the second set due to a back injury. Though she was competing against her, U.S. star Gauff walked over to Osaka’s bench and offered to help carry her bags and move off the court.
In a video of the moment posted to X (formerly known as Twitter) Gauff asks Osaka if she is okay or needs any help, with Osaka replying in a surprised voice saying “Really?” Gauff then grabbed one of Osaka’s tennis bags to carry and the two walked off the court to cheers from the audience.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Team USA Flagbearer Coco Gauff Beams with Pride During Olympics Opening Ceremony: ‘Truly No Words’
The match between the two tennis superstars was heading into the third set when Osaka retired. Osaka had won the first set 6–3, while Gauff took the second 6–4. Following Osaka’s forfeit, Gauff will now advance to the quarterfinals.
It’s far from the first time the two U.S. Open champs have supported each other. In 2019, after they faced each other for the first time at the U.S. Open and Osaka took the win, she noticed that the then-15-year-old Gauff was tearing up, and gave her a hug.
“When I shook her hand, I saw that she was kind of tearing up a little. Then it reminded me how young she was,” Osaka told reporters after the match. “I was just thinking it would be nice for her to address the people that came and watched her play. They were cheering for her.”
Naomi Osaka Feels ‘Pretty Good’ About Her Return to Tennis Despite Early Exit: ‘A Good Start’
Four years later, Osaka, who had just given birth to her daughter Shai, was in the stands as Gauff won her semifinal match to make it to the 2023 U.S. Open final. In her post-match interview, Gauff thanked Osaka for coming.
“Naomi, I remember the moment we had on this court … it meant a lot to me,” Gauff said. “I’m so excited to have you back on tour and hopefully, I get to meet your daughter. Thank you so much for coming and hi to your mom as well.”
Leave a Reply