Naomi Osaka Advances to US Open Quarterfinals After Beating Coco Gauff

Naomi Osaka delivered a dominant performance to defeat third seed Coco Gauff 6-3, 6-2 in their highly anticipated US Open fourth-round clash, a battle between two former champions. It was Osaka’s first appearance in the Flushing Meadows quarterfinals in five years, marking a major step forward in her comeback journey after seasons of struggles and setbacks.

From the very start, Osaka looked sharp, taking control with strong baseline play while Gauff, the 2023 US Open champion, faltered on her forehand and serve. The American’s double faults and unforced errors proved costly, with Osaka breaking early and never relinquishing her lead. Gauff attempted to fight back but her repeated service issues, including a double fault on set point and another in the final game, left her visibly frustrated. At one point, she turned to her coaching box and admitted, “Nothing’s working.” After bowing out with a shot into the net, Gauff shared a brief embrace with Osaka, who celebrated quietly but emotionally, later admitting she was “a little sensitive” and had “so much fun out here.”

Osaka reflected on the importance of enjoying herself again, emphasizing that her biggest takeaway from this tournament is “smiling and having fun.” The four-time Grand Slam champion, who previously triumphed in New York in 2018 and 2020, credited her team for standing by her through difficult times. She acknowledged that her comeback has been built on belief, resilience, and rediscovering joy in competition.

Historically, every time Osaka has reached the last eight in a major, she has gone on to win the trophy, raising hopes that she could extend her winning pattern. However, her journey to this point has been anything but easy. After capturing her last Grand Slam title at the 2021 Australian Open, she withdrew from Roland Garros to protect her mental health, openly discussing her battle with depression. She skipped Wimbledon the same year and exited the US Open in tears after an unexpected early loss, eventually announcing a break from tennis. Her 2023 season was spent on maternity leave, further delaying her return.

Her comeback initially stumbled, as she failed to progress beyond the third round in her first seven Grand Slam appearances post-maternity. But recent form suggests she is regaining her best level, with a finals appearance in Montreal last month signaling renewed momentum. Osaka attributes much of this to her collaboration with new coach Tomasz Wiktorowski, crediting their partnership for her resurgence. She also highlighted her belief in visualization and positivity, showing reporters her Labubu charm named “Althea Glitterson” in honor of trailblazer Althea Gibson.

Osaka was clear that, despite difficulties, quitting tennis permanently was never an option. “To hang up my racket permanently would be a very scary thing,” she said. “It’s like breathing air to me.” Her next challenge is against Czech 11th seed Karolina Muchova in the quarterfinals.

Meanwhile, in another match, Poland’s Iga Swiatek stormed into the quarterfinals by overwhelming Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-3, 6-1. The 24-year-old, already a former US Open champion, became the youngest woman since Maria Sharapova in 2005 to reach the quarterfinals of all four Grand Slams in the same season. Swiatek credited her intensity and focus for the victory and revealed she immediately texted her coach, Wim Fissette, to book extra practice time. She now faces Amanda Anisimova in a rematch of their Wimbledon final, which Swiatek had dominated 6-0, 6-0.

Together, Osaka’s revival and Swiatek’s dominance highlighted a dramatic and emotional day of women’s tennis at the US Open.