NEW YORK — Naomi Osaka grinned brightly before stepping onto the court for her thrilling match against Coco Gauff on Monday—and her smile was just as wide when it was over. Between plays, she gently patted her left thigh, murmuring to herself, “Come on. Come on.”
Once the match commenced, Osaka’s powerful strokes echoed across the court, showcasing the kind of poised, electric tennis that propelled her to four Grand Slam victories and the esteemed No. 1 ranking.
In an exhilarating demonstration that she’s firmly back in the game and vying for top honors, Osaka decisively defeated Gauff 6-3, 6-2 in Arthur Ashe Stadium, marking her return to a major quarterfinal for the first time in over four and a half years.
Her last appearance in a Slam quarterfinal was at the 2021 Australian Open.
“This feels like uncharted territory in my career right now,” said Osaka, a 27-year-old who was born in Japan and moved to the U.S. with her family at just three years old. “I’m just reveling in the moment. I’m really enjoying playing against the best in the world.”
The No. 23-seeded Osaka outperformed No. 3 Gauff consistently, as the latter struggled with numerous unforced errors throughout a tournament that has been challenging for her. Gauff’s body language starkly contrasted with Osaka’s composed demeanor; she frequently threw her hands up in frustration or covered her face, signaling confusion or disappointment.
Yet, Gauff remained resilient, stating afterward, “I’m not going to let this break me.”
Next up for Osaka is Karolina Muchova, who eliminated her in last year’s US Open.
On Wednesday, Osaka will clash with No. 11 Karolina Muchova from the Czech Republic for a chance to advance to the semifinals. Muchova, the 2023 French Open runner-up and a semifinalist in New York for the past two years, advanced after a tough 6-3, 6-7 (0), 6-3 battle against No. 27 Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine.
Muchova was the one who overcame 45-year-old Venus Williams in the opening round of this US Open. Furthermore, she previously defeated Osaka in the second round at Flushing Meadows in 2024.
Against Gauff, Osaka exhibited the confidence—and crucially, the booming serve—that led her to victorious Slam performances at the US Open in 2018 and 2020, as well as the Australian Open in 2019 and 2021.
Naomi Osaka ignited a global dialogue about mental health four years ago.
During the 2021 French Open, Osaka bravely opened up about her struggles with anxiety and depression, prompting a worldwide discussion on mental well-being. Following this, she took a significant break from the tour.
That last trophy at Melbourne Park marked her most recent deep run in a major until her match against Gauff. Gauff, a 21-year-old from Florida, claimed two major titles, the first at Flushing Meadows in 2023 and the second at the French Open this June.
Osaka made her return to the tour last season after a 17-month maternity leave, welcoming her child, Shai, in July 2023.
Naomi Osaka embraced motherhood in July 2023.
“I’m a bit emotional and don’t want to cry, but honestly, I had an incredible time out there,” Osaka expressed, recalling her first encounter with Gauff at the 2019 US Open, also in Ashe, where she took the win as well.
“I was in the stands just two months after giving birth to my daughter, watching Coco play. I was eager for the chance to get out here and compete,” Osaka shared with the crowd. “This court is my favorite in the world, and it means everything to me to be back here.”
Gauff began the match seeming tense. While her serve improved, other areas faltered, leading her to finish with 33 unforced errors—far surpassing Osaka’s 12.
Moreover, Osaka’s serving and returning were exceptional, winning 32 out of 38 points on her serve—15 out of 16 when her first serves were in—without facing a single break point. She converted all four of her break opportunities.
“She made me work hard for every single point today,” Gauff acknowledged.
A key factor was Osaka’s aggressive use of her forehand against Gauff’s less reliable forehand.
By the first set’s end, Gauff had accrued 16 unforced errors while Osaka had only five. By the match conclusion, 20 of Gauff’s errors were from her forehand side.
“After the match, I was really down and broke down to my team,” Gauff confessed. “But after hearing their insights, I realized there’s a lot of positives to take away.”
