Future of women's tennis on display in Coco v Osaka part II

Two of most exciting young talents in tennis take centre st at Australian Open on Friday when 15-year-old American Coco Gauff takes on reigning champion Naomi Osaka. It will be just second instalment of a budding rivalry that could light up tennis for next decade or more, having met for first time at US Open last year. 38-year-old Serena Williams still reigns over women's game but Osaka, 22, has been touted as a possible successor in short term, and Gauff as longer-term heir apparent.

y have a long way to go to get anywhere near Williams's success and stature, but can press ir claims when y meet in third round in Melbourne. Williams, chasing a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title, could await in quarter-finals. Williams was hugely impressed by what she saw in Gauff at a pre-season training camp, saying that she was "where near her level at 15 eir on court or off court, t even close".

Gauff stunned Williams's older sister Venus in first round on her Grand Slam debut at Wimbledon last year, n pulled off same trick earlier this week in Melbourne. She is making her debut at Australian Open and is youngest player in draw. Japan's two-time Grand Slam champion Osaka, third seed, will be expected to win because she taught teenr a harsh lesson nearly five months ago in New York. On that occasion, Japanese crushed a tearful and overawed Gauff 6-3, 6-0 in a little over an hour, also in third round. But after coming back from a set and 3-0 down to defeat Romania's Sorana Cirstea on Wednesday, Gauff vowed things would be different this time.

"I think I'll be less nervous this time," she told world's media, displaying remarkable poise for one so young.

"She plays really aggressive. This time coming in I'm going to be more aggressive.

I think I'm more confident this time around," Gauff added.

'Gauff will be .1'

Despite that meek defeat last time Gauff still has good memories of playing Osaka, who was defending champion at Flushing Meadows. Osaka, number one in world at time, consoled an emotional Gauff with a hug afterwards. That was followed by tearful on-court interviews, Osaka asking teenr to join her with microphone.

Gauff has t forgotten those gestures and hopes it can inspire generation even younger than her.

"It was definitely a good moment I think for both of us, especially me," she said.

"But I think more just for people watching, little girls watching and little boys who can kind of see what sportsmanship is really.

"I think that's something if I had a child or something, that's something I would want my child to see. It just shows what being a competitor really is," said Gauff.

Justine Henin, former world number one and a seven-time Grand Slam champion, says that Osaka is favourite because of her form and experience on biggest st. But retired Belgian also told Eurosport: "Coco Gauff is one of players we are going to talk a lot about in future. "She has potential to be world number one, that's for sure."