Naomi Osaka, Coco Gauff renew U.S. Open rivalry as Round of 16 matchup returns to Arthur Ashe Stadium

Naomi Osaka and Coco Gauff will meet Monday night in the U.S. Open’s round of 16 on Arthur Ashe Stadium, renewing a rivalry that began with a memorable off-court moment six summers ago. The winner will advance to the quarterfinals.

The encounter carries added emotional weight because of what transpired in 2019, when a 15-year-old Gauff made her Arthur Ashe Stadium debut and lost to Osaka, then the reigning U.S. Open champion. Rather than simply celebrating the victory, Osaka checked on Gauff and shared the spotlight with the teenager in a gesture that has endured in public memory.

At the time, Gauff described the exchange as deeply affecting. "I was wanting to leave the court because I’m not the type of person who wants to cry in front of everyone. I didn’t want to take that moment away from her, as well," she said. "She told me it’s better than crying in the shower. She convinced me multiple times to stay. I kept saying no. Finally I said, ‘OK, I’ll do it,’ because I didn’t know what to do."

The image of Osaka comforting and embracing the young competitor has become part of both players’ shared narrative, and it framed expectations and curiosity ahead of their rematch on the same Flushing Meadows court. Both players and fans have referenced that moment in previews and interviews leading up to this latest meeting.

Monday’s match will determine which player moves into the tournament’s final eight, a milestone both have reached at major events before. The U.S. Open fixture represents not only a contest for immediate advancement but also a continuation of an interpersonal storyline that has evolved as both players have matured and shaped their careers.

Osaka entered the 2019 U.S. Open as the defending champion and left with both the match result and a widely noted public display of sportsmanship. Gauff’s debut at Arthur Ashe Stadium and her postmatch reaction were widely reported at the time and are frequently recalled in coverage of their current meeting.

The rematch at Flushing Meadows will be watched for both its competitive implications and for how the players' relationship is reflected on the court. Organizers scheduled the match on Arthur Ashe Stadium, where the original exchange occurred, underscoring the narrative continuity for fans and media.

Both athletes have since added to their careers in different ways, and the U.S. Open meeting is the latest chapter in a connection that began with an on-court result and a shared moment afterward. The winner advances to the quarterfinals and deeper contention for a Grand Slam title, while the loser’s tournament will end in New York.

Ticketed spectators, television audiences and tennis commentators have highlighted the pairing as one of the tournament’s most compelling stories, blending competition with a human-interest element rooted in sportsmanship and mentorship. The match is scheduled for Monday night on Arthur Ashe Stadium, with a quarterfinal berth on the line.