Naomi Osaka and Coco Gauff nominated for BET Sportswoman of the Year Award

Naomi Osaka is willing to train harder and watch loads of other clay-star players ahead of Roland Garros.

Naomi Osaka and Coco Gauff nominated for BET Sportswoman of the Year Award

Coco Gauff and Naomi Osaka (Image via: Imago)

Naomi Osaka and Coco Gauff have been nominated for the prestigious BET Sportswoman of the Year Award. This is Gauff’s first nomination for the award after following in the footsteps of Serena Williams, who has won the award a record sixteen times.

Gauff’s brilliance this season, including her US Open triumph, helped her clinch a spot among the nominees. The American defeated Aryna Sabalenka in New York last year to win her maiden Grand Slam as a teenager and ended the year as No. 3 in the WTA rankings. 

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This season, she continued from where she left off last year, winning the Auckland Open and, weeks later, reaching the semifinals of the Australian Open.

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At the Sunshine Doubles, she reached the semifinals of the Indian Wells Masters, losing to Maria Sakkari, and the round of 16 in Miami.

Coco Gauff will now have to compete with other athletes such as Sha’Carri Richardson (the world’s fastest woman), A’ja Wilson, Angel Reese, Flau’jae Johnson, Juju Watkins, Simone Biles (an Olympic gold medalist), and Osaka.

Japanese star Osaka won the award last year, beating Serena Williams. She may not have much to prove after she returned from her maternity leave this year, but she has certainly done well for herself. She has risen from World No. 747 in February to No. 173. She reached the quarterfinals of the Qatar Open and recently defeated Daria Kasatkina to earn her first Top 20 win in Rome.

She has begun to grow in confidence and looks closer to stepping into the Top 100 in just six months. The former World No. 1 will be hoping to consecutively win the BET Sportswoman Award despite Gauff’s challenge.

Naomi Osaka willing to be patient and train harder ahead of Roland Garros

Naomi Osaka admitted that she has to be patient after exiting the round of 16 of the Italian Open in Rome. The Japanese star was hoping for a better finish after a bright start to her Rome campaign, but that was ultimately dealt with by Qinwen Zheng in a straight set.

Naomi Osaka
Naomi Osaka (Via Imago)
I have to process things a little bit differently but also accept the last time I played quarters in Rome, I didn't play seeded players. My daughter's not even one yet, so I have to understand that. I'm very impatient. But I'll try to be patient. I'll try my best.
Naomi Osaka said

However, before heading to Paris, she will travel to Mallorca for a solid preparation with her team. She believes that the training and watching loads of other players like Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams, and Carlos Alcaraz will help boost her game ahead of Roland Garros.

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