NEW YORK — Naomi Osaka and Iga Swiatek have surged into the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open, reminding everyone why they once held the title of top-ranked women’s tennis players globally.
In a thrilling clash at Arthur Ashe Stadium, Osaka triumphed over Coco Gauff with a decisive score of 6-3, 6-2. Meanwhile, Swiatek staged a remarkable comeback from a 3-1 deficit in the first set to overpower Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-3, 6-1.
“Initially, she was playing extremely quickly,” remarked Swiatek, who is aiming for her second U.S. Open title and seventh Grand Slam overall. “I needed to locate my rhythm, but soon I felt like I was fully in my bubble and zone.”
This will be Osaka’s first major quarterfinal since 2021, where she will compete against either No. 11 Karolina Muchova or No. 27 Marta Kostyuk for a chance to advance to the semifinals. Swiatek’s next opponent will either be American Amanda Anisimova or Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia.
“The girls will be playing late, so there’s no need for me to overthink my next opponent,” Swiatek said. “I’ll just focus on whoever wins, and then prepare accordingly.”
Rublev’s Journey Ends at the U.S. Open
On the men’s side, 25th-seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime from Canada moved forward by defeating Andrey Rublev 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 in a match that lasted just over two hours at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
This marks Auger-Aliassime’s second victory out of nine matches against Rublev, the No. 15 seed, who displayed frustration by slamming his racket after losing a crucial point in the second set.
“Once I secured the first set, I felt in control of the match,” said Auger-Aliassime, who, at 25, is making his fourth quarterfinal appearance in a Grand Slam. “A great win considering our previous encounters and his skill as a player.”
Highlights from Monday’s U.S. Open Action
Eighth-seeded Australian Alex de Minaur claimed victory against qualifier Leandro Riedi 6-3, 6-2, 6-1 and is set to face Auger-Aliassime next. Meanwhile, top-ranked Jannik Sinner is poised to compete against Alexander Bublik in the night session.
What’s on Tuesday’s U.S. Open Agenda?
Second-ranked Carlos Alcaraz will take on Jiri Lehecka in one men’s quarterfinal, while American Taylor Fritz faces off against four-time U.S. Open champion Novak Djokovic in the other, with both winners advancing to the semifinals on Friday. In the women’s quarterfinals, Jessica Pegula will compete against Barbora Krejcikova, and top seed Aryna Sabalenka will clash with Marketa Vondrousova.
