The circumstances have been a lot totally different Monday afternoon than the final time Naomi Osaka confronted Coco Gauff on the U.S. Open.
Again in 2019, Osaka was the world No. 1 and the Open’s defending champion. Gauff was a 15-year-old phenom competing within the event for the primary time.
However one factor remained the identical Monday because the Twenty third-seeded Osaka and third-seeded Gauff squared off on the Open for the primary time since then.
Osaka got here out on high — and with little resistance.
In an Open-altering upset, Osaka cruised previous Gauff, 6-3, 6-2, at Arthur Ashe Stadium in solely 64 minutes to advance to a significant quarterfinal for the primary time since 2021.
The Japanese star is about to face No. 11 Karolina Muchova on Wednesday.
Naomi Osaka reacts whereas competing in her 4th spherical match of the 2025 U.S. Open tennis championships on the USTA Billie Jean King Nationwide Tennis Middle in Flushing New York on September 1, 2025. (Andrew Schwartz/NYDN)
“Going into this match, I just wanted to be grateful,” Osaka stated. “I mean, she’s one of the best players in the world. For me, honestly, I have the most fun when I play against the best.”
Osaka, 27, was regular and in management all through Monday’s fourth-round match, taking benefit as Gauff dedicated miscue after miscue.
Gauff, 21, made 33 unforced errors, in comparison with Osaka’s 12, and repeatedly struggled to land pictures together with her forehand.
“Today was disappointing, because I felt it was the best I served all tournament,” Gauff stated. “A lot of aces. Yeah, there were some double [faults], but I thought that was a good performance from me serving. Off the ground, I think I just made way too many mistakes, way too many errors.”
Naomi Osaka competes within the 4th spherical of the 2025 U.S. Open tennis championships on the USTA Billie Jean King Nationwide Tennis Middle in Flushing New York on September 1, 2025. (Andrew Schwartz/NYDN)
Gauff unveiled a brand new serve at this 12 months’s Open, making an attempt to chop down on double faults. And whereas Gauff improved in that side Monday after just a few uneven performances final week, Osaka nonetheless managed to interrupt 4 of her serves.
Osaka, in the meantime, was virtually good when serving, profitable 32 of 38 factors and taking all eight video games.
Coco Gauff reacts whereas competing in her 4th spherical match of the 2025 U.S. Open tennis championships on the USTA Billie Jean King Nationwide Tennis Middle in Flushing New York on September 1, 2025. (Andrew Schwartz/NYDN)
“Coco is probably the fastest, if not one of the fastest, players on tour,” Osaka stated. “I also think that says a lot for me to be completely fine with playing long rallies with her and just knowing that I’m OK not going for anything until I get my perfect opportunity.”
With Gauff’s exit, No. 4 Jessica Pegula is the final American lady standing on this 12 months’s event.
Coco Gauff reacts whereas competing in her 4th spherical match of the 2025 U.S. Open tennis championships on the USTA Billie Jean King Nationwide Tennis Middle in Flushing New York on September 1, 2025. (Andrew Schwartz/NYDN)
Osaka is now 3-3 in opposition to Gauff in her profession, beginning with their third-round match on the Open in 2019.
Osaka received that assembly in straight units, then consoled Gauff, who was moved to tears after the defeat. In a long-lasting picture, Osaka invited Gauff to affix her for her post-match interview, a lot to the delight of that evening’s Ashe crowd.
4 years later, Gauff received the 2023 Open for her first main championship. Osaka gave delivery about two months earlier than then and was within the stands for Gauff’s semifinal victory over Muchova.
Naomi Osaka hugs Coco Gauff after beating Gauff in her 4th spherical match of the 2025 U.S. Open tennis championships on the USTA Billie Jean King Nationwide Tennis Middle in Flushing New York on September 1, 2025. (Andrew Schwartz/NYDN)
In her return to enjoying on the U.S. Open final 12 months, Osaka misplaced to Muchova within the second spherical.
Osaka is a four-time Grand Slam champion who received the U.S. Open in 2018 and 2020. That is Osaka’s longest run at Flushing Meadows since 2020.
Wednesday will mark her first look in a significant quarterfinal because the 2021 Australian Open. Within the 4 earlier cases she made it to the quarterfinal of a Grand Slam, Osaka went on to win the event.
Naomi Osaka celebrates after profitable her 4th spherical match of the 2025 U.S. Open tennis championships on the USTA Billie Jean King Nationwide Tennis Middle in Flushing New York on September 1, 2025. (Andrew Schwartz/NYDN)
“Every match is very different, and obviously the more matches you play at a slam, especially, you kind of just learn more and you feel more comfortable,” Osaka stated.
“For me today, I definitely feel like I played better than the last match I played, but it’s going to be interesting to see what happens the more matches I get under my belt.”
Initially Revealed: September 1, 2025 at 3:38 PM EDT
