Naomi Osaka, of Japan, returns a shot against Coco Gauff, of the United States, during the fourth round of the US Open tennis championships, in Queens, N.Y., on Monday.Kirsty Wigglesworth / AP
Naomi Osaka is back on familiar ground at Flushing Meadows. The four-time Grand Slam champion outplayed Coco Gauff on Monday night, winning 6-3, 6-2 to advance to her first major quarterfinal in over four and a half years.
Displaying confidence and consistency, the No. 23 seed dictated play from the start in Arthur Ashe Stadium, where she looked every bit the dominant competitor who once ruled the hard-court Slams. Gauff, seeded third, struggled with unforced errors throughout the match, handing Osaka the advantage in key moments.
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“I was super locked in, to be honest,” Osaka said after the match. “I felt like everyone came to watch a really great match, and I hope that’s what they got.”
From Osaka’s side of the net, it was an emphatic performance. She showcased the calm demeanor, thunderous serve, and heavy groundstrokes that brought her four major titles—two at the U.S. Open (2018, 2020) and two at the Australian Open (2019, 2021).
It was back in 2021 at the French Open that Osaka sparked a global conversation around mental health after sharing her struggles with depression and anxiety, which led to multiple breaks from the tour. Since then, she had not advanced beyond the fourth round of a Slam until this showdown with Gauff.
For Gauff, 21, the loss was a setback after a strong run that included a U.S. Open title in 2023 and a French Open crown earlier this year. But for Osaka, the victory represents a milestone in her comeback following a 17-month maternity break. Her daughter, Shai, was born in July 2023.
“I’m a little sensitive, and I don’t want to cry, but honestly, I just had so much fun out here,” Osaka said on court. “I was in the stands like two months after I gave birth, watching Coco play. I just wanted an opportunity to come out here again. This is my favorite court in the world, and it means so much to be back.”
Gauff’s nerves were apparent from the opening game. Although her serve had power, her ground game faltered. She committed five errors in her opening service game, was broken immediately, and trailed 2-0 within five minutes after losing eight of the first nine points.
Determined to steady herself, Gauff cranked up the pace in her second service game, firing four first serves over 110 mph—including one at 115 mph—and held at love behind two aces and a pair of service winners. But Osaka quickly regained control, exploiting Gauff’s weaker forehand side with pinpoint forehands of her own. By the end of the first set, Gauff had 16 unforced errors, while Osaka kept hers to just five.
Osaka’s intensity was evident. She smacked her thigh between points and repeatedly urged herself on with shouts of “Come on!” Her confident energy stood in stark contrast to Gauff’s frustration, as the American often gestured toward her team with confusion or exasperation.
The tactical edge Osaka displayed, along with her mental calm, proved decisive. She never allowed Gauff to settle into the match, and her calculated shot selection consistently drew errors.
The win puts Osaka into her first Grand Slam quarterfinal since capturing the 2021 Australian Open title, signaling a resurgence for the former world No. 1. With her powerful baseline game and renewed mental clarity, Osaka looks poised to challenge for a fifth Grand Slam trophy.
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