Teenager Gauff reaches last 32

SHE may be fearful of driving on the left-hand side of the road or getting criticised by her brothers when she’s behind the wheel, but Coco Gauff remains very much at ease playing Naomi Osaka.

It says much about the 15year-old, who won through to a third round clash with the defending Australian Open champion following a gritty three-set win yesterday.

Gauff had to fight back from 0-3 and 0-30 down in the deciding set against Romanian veteran Sorana Cirstea.

Like many things for the teen phenom, it was taken in her stride. “I was just trying to stay calm mostly and stay positive. I’ve always believed that I can come back regardless of the score,” she said.

“The whole match I knew I needed to be more aggressive. I guess I finally decided to do that even though I wish I decided that earlier. That’s OK.”

With a fierce forehand, no issues in coming to the net and a wicked top-spin lob that landed more than once, Gauff is confident she can push Osaka harder than when she ing, racing through the first set in just 22 minutes.

The 32-year-old dropped a set in a tough opening clash on Monday against German JanLennard Struff, and against the odds Ito pressed hard to level the match in the second set.

The experienced Japanese, bidding to reach a grand slam third round for the first time, cut down on his error rate to did at last year’s US Open. In that third round match, she was routinely beaten 6-3, 6-0 and admitted to having some nerves.

Not now though.

“We’re both familiar with each other’s games. She plays really aggressive. This time coming in I’m going to be more aggressive,” she said.

“I think in general my mindset has always been nothing to lose really. I think my mindset just is ‘I’m going to fight’. If I lose, the world is not going to end.”

In just her third major, Gauff captured the imaginations of tennis fans with her run to the fourth round at Wimbledon last year.

She backed that up with a third-round showing in New York, beat Venus Williams for the second time this week and would likely break into the top 50 with an upset win over Osaka.

It’s all come relatively easily, unlike her driving.

“The first time I drove on a highway was really nerveracking for me. Also driving with my brothers in the car is nerve-racking,” she said.

And she ruled out taking push Djokovic around the court and get into the rallies.

But the Serb inevitably got the break he was chasing in game nine when Ito fluffed a forehand and he quickly served it out, blasting down an ace to go two sets ahead.

Djokovic, bidding for a 17th Grand Slam title, had never lost a Slam match to a player ranked as low as Ito and the the wheel anytime soon in Australia. “Yes, yes (I’d be scared). I have to remind myself when crossing the street to look both ways so I don’t get hit by a car,” she said.

Osaka, meanwhile, conceded she had been “a bit childish” after her frustrations boiled over yesterday.

The reigning champion handled the blustery Melbourne conditions to defeat China’s 42nd-ranked Zheng Saisai 6-2, 6-4.

But the 22-year-old Japanese was irritated by Zheng’s defensive play and her emotions got the better of her when the Chinese broke early in the second set.

Osaka threw her racquet to the floor, then gave it a kick for good measure. The two-time grand slam champion also tossed away a ball and slammed the racquet down again as she slumped to her chair, covering her head with her towel.

“My racquet just magically flew out of my hand,” Osaka said mischievously, smiling.

“I couldn’t control it, I think that’s how I dealt with my frustration. “It was a bit childish.”