Naomi Osaka delivered a vintage performance at the US Open, dismantling defending champion Coco Gauff 6–3, 6–2 in a match that marked her return to the top tier of women’s tennis.
The win sent Osaka into her first Grand Slam quarterfinal since 2021 — a major milestone in her comeback after taking time off for maternity leave and mental health recovery.
The match began with high anticipation on Arthur Ashe Stadium, where both players had previously shared one of the most emotional scenes in modern tennis during their 2019 encounter.
This time, sentiment gave way to Osaka’s ruthless efficiency.
From the first ball, she controlled rallies with heavy groundstrokes, especially off her backhand side, repeatedly pinning Gauff behind the baseline.
In the opening set, Osaka broke Gauff’s serve in the fourth game to take a 3–1 lead. That break proved decisive.
She backed it up with flawless serving, hitting six aces and landing 77% of her first serves. Gauff struggled to find rhythm, spraying forehand errors and committing three double faults in the first seven games.
Osaka closed the set 6–3 after just 36 minutes, having faced no break points.
Osaka’s Serve Holds Firm, Gauff Falters
The second set followed a similar script.
Osaka broke early again, this time in the third game, and consolidated with a love hold. She continued to dictate with depth and accuracy, winning 80% of points behind her first serve.
Gauff, visibly frustrated, tried to change tactics by coming to the net more often, but she won just 8 of 20 net points.
The pressure mounted when she double-faulted to concede another break at 4–2, allowing Osaka to serve out the match comfortably.
The Japanese star finished with 25 winners to only 15 unforced errors. Gauff tallied 33 unforced errors, 19 of them on the forehand wing.
Afterwards, Osaka reflected on the significance of the night: “I was super locked in,” she told the crowd. “It’s been a while since I’ve been this far in a Slam, and doing it here in New York, on this court, means so much. After having my daughter, I wasn’t sure if I’d feel this again, but I’m really proud of how far I’ve come.”
She added that her mindset has shifted since her break from the sport: “I don’t put as much pressure on myself anymore. I’m just enjoying the moment, and I think that’s helping me play freer.”
Gauff was candid in defeat: “It was just a really tough day,” she admitted in her press conference. “Naomi played great, and I didn’t execute what I needed to. My serve wasn’t working, my forehand wasn’t working… it’s frustrating. I feel a little empty right now, but that’s part of tennis. You can’t win them all, and hopefully this makes me stronger.”
The 21-year-old American, who won the US Open in 2023 and came in as the No. 3 seed, finished with only 12 winners compared to her 33 errors.
Full-Circle Moment and What Comes Next
The match carried a sense of full-circle drama.
Six years earlier, in the same stadium, Osaka had comforted a tearful 15-year-old Gauff after beating her in straight sets.
This time, Osaka’s composure and experience underscored the difference in their levels on the day. The win extended Osaka’s head-to-head lead over Gauff to 4–2.
For Osaka, who returned to the tour earlier this year and picked up momentum with a WTA title in Montreal, the performance was another reminder of her championship pedigree.
Her serve, once shaky during her comeback months, held firm. She finished the match with nine aces, won 84% of her first-serve points, and faced zero break points.
Next up, Osaka will face Karolina Muchova in the quarterfinals — a matchup that promises another stern test.
Muchova’s variety could challenge Osaka’s rhythm, but if the former world No. 1 maintains the level she displayed against Gauff, she will be seen as a genuine contender for a fifth Grand Slam title.
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