Naomi Osaka routs Coco Gauff to reach US Open quarter-finals
Osaka beats third-seeded Gauff 6-3, 6-2 in a one-hour match at Flushing Meadows to reach her first Grand Slam quarter-final since 2021
Naomi Osaka ended Coco Gauff's run at the US Open with a decisive 6-3, 6-2 victory in the fourth round on Monday at Flushing Meadows, advancing to the quarter-finals for the first time at a major since winning the 2021 Australian Open.
The four-time Grand Slam champion, seeded 23rd, broke the third-seeded American's serve in the opening game and never gave up the initiative, closing out the match in one hour and four minutes without facing a break point on her own serve.
Osaka played patiently and forced errors from Gauff, whose forehand was repeatedly targeted. The 21-year-old American finished with 33 unforced errors and just eight winners, a contrast to Osaka's cleaner ball striking and tactical serving. Gauff's serve showed signs of improvement compared with earlier rounds, but could not offset the mistakes under pressure.
"I was super locked-in," Osaka said in her on-court interview. "I felt like everyone wanted to watch a really great match and I hope that’s what you got."
Osaka, who gave birth to her daughter Shai in 2023, described the win as one of her strongest since returning to the tour. She smiled and applauded Gauff at the net following the match, while Gauff made a quick exit from the stadium.
The victory marks a significant milestone in Osaka's comeback, moving her into the last eight at Flushing Meadows and ending any momentum Gauff had built at her home Grand Slam. Osaka converted on key break-point opportunities, finishing the match with an aggressive return game that repeatedly exposed Gauff's backhand and forehand under duress.
Gauff entered the tournament as the third seed and one of the favorites on American soil, but the match tightened early as she struggled to find a reliable pattern from the baseline. Osaka's experience at big events and calm under pressure contrasted with an error-prone performance from Gauff, who struggled to convert chances and pressured points.
Osaka will face the winner of the match between Karolína Muchová and Marta Kostyuk in the quarter-finals. The US Open continues at Flushing Meadows as players vie for a place in the semifinals and the chance to compete for Grand Slam honors in New York.
Monday's result adds to Osaka's list of signature wins at the US Open, where she previously lifted the title in 2018 and 2020. For Gauff, the loss ends her campaign at a tournament where expectations had been high, underscoring the fine margins that separate the game's top players at Grand Slam level.