Australian Open: Coco Gauff stuns reigning champion with the biggest upset of her blossoming career against Naomi Osaka

COCO GAUFF caused the biggest upset of her young life when she knocked out the defending champion Naomi Osaka from the Australian Open.

If you thought this incredible 15-year-old could not surprise us any further, then she did just that and more in emphatic fashion in Melbourne this evening.

Beating a 39-year-old Venus Williams twice at Grand Slams is respectable and certainly brought her to global prominence.

But this 6-3 6-4 victory over Japans Osaka, the winner of this trophy 12 months ago, elevates her to another league.

Yes, Osaka was poor, extremely poor, but that should not take anything away from Gauff and her achievement.

No longer can she be considered as a dangerous floater in the singles draw – and, for the first time, she can be classed as a genuine title contender for a Slam.

That might seem unimaginable for someone so young and which such little experience.

But that is the reality as Osaka went packing and the draw has opened up nicely for Gauff to progress even further.

In the fourth round she will play Chinas Shuai Zhang or American No14 seed Sofia Kenin neither of whom would scare or worry Gauff given who she has beaten so far.

And with Serena Williams gone from her quarter, the sky is the limit for this youngster.

Osaka beat Gauff the last time they met at the US Open and consoled her in a tearful post-match on-court interview.

MATURE BEYOND HER YEARS

There might be a seven-year difference but this was a monumental transformation since autumn.

Cauff played with maturity and expertise beyond her years, taking the first set 6-3.

Even when she was put under pressure in the second set, Gauff kept her cool and did not let it faze her.

I truth, 15-year-olds should not be beating senior, established pros like this.

But then Gauff is one hell of a talent… and potentially a Grand Slam winner a week on Saturday.

After her win, Gauff said: Oh my gosh, I dont know where that came from. From the crowd I guess.

“Honestly, what is my life? Two years ago, I lost in the first round in juniors. Now I am here. This is crazy.

I was telling myself one point at a time, keep fighting, you never know what happens on this court.

I mean I love it down here. Oh my gosh, honestly, thank you guys from the bottom of my heart. I am on the Rod Laver Arena, I cannot believe this.

I have not met Rod. I have walked past him a couple of times in the hallway but I never said ‘hi’ because I am nervous.

“If he sees this, tell him we can set up a meeting sometime. I need a selfie for Instagram.

I will probably do my homework tomorrow. I want to sleep tonight. My teachers are giving me time, considering the circumstances, and they are letting me send in some assignments late, which is OK.

I dont really care who I play next at this point.

*The Suns coverage of the Australian Open is brought to you in partnership with Betway.