Two-time US Open champion Naomi Osaka upset Coca Gauff in straight units, whereas Iga Swiatek beat Ekaterina Alexandrova.
Printed On 2 Sep 2025
Naomi Osaka produced a commanding efficiency to knock out third seed Coco Gauff 6-3 6-2 in a extremely anticipated fourth spherical showdown between two former U.S. Open champions.
After years of bitter disappointment on the 12 months’s ultimate main, Osaka confirmed flashes of her outdated brilliance on Monday as she took management of the match from the beginning, whereas 2023 champion Gauff struggled along with her forehand and her serve.
The outcome carried Osaka into the Flushing Meadows quarterfinals for the primary time in 5 years and she is going to subsequent play Czech eleventh seed Karolina Muchova.
“The primary factor I need to take away from this event is simply smiling and having enjoyable,” mentioned four-time Grand Slam champion Osaka, who triumphed in New York in 2018 and 2020 however had did not advance previous the third spherical in her final three makes an attempt.
“For me, truthfully, I’ve probably the most enjoyable once I play in opposition to the very best gamers.”
Monday’s showdown marked the primary time that the 2 fan favourites met in New York since their memorable 2019 tussle when the then 15-year-old Gauff misplaced to Osaka.
The followers who had stored on chattering by the sooner match on Ashe fell silent as the 2 started their battle, with Osaka breaking Gauff from the baseline within the first recreation in an outstanding first set.
Gauff has spent many months attempting to rebuild her serve and was let down by it but once more as she produced a double fault on set level, one in every of 5 throughout the match.
The errors started to pile up for the American, who handed Osaka one other break level with an unforced error within the sixth recreation of the second set and vented her frustration in the direction of her field in the course of the ultimate recreation, telling her coaches: “Nothing’s working.”
The pair embraced briefly on the web after Gauff bowed out with a shot into the web on match level and Osaka smiled in a subdued celebration.
“I’m slightly delicate. I don’t need to cry. I had a lot enjoyable out right here,” mentioned Osaka.
“An enormous thanks to my crew. We’ve been by quite a bit, it hasn’t been straightforward however they’ve been by my aspect.”
Osaka’s comeback constructed on perception
Each time Osaka has reached the final eight of a significant, she has gone on to hoist the trophy and he or she will probably be hoping to keep up that observe file in New York.
She received the final of her 4 Grand Slam titles on the 2021 Australian Open earlier than withdrawing from Roland Garros to guard her psychological wellbeing after disclosing her private struggles with despair.
The Japanese participant skipped Wimbledon after which left the U.S. Open in tears later that 12 months after an surprising third-round defeat, saying that she would take a break from enjoying. She additionally took a maternity break during the 2023 season.
Having did not progress past the third spherical at her first seven slams following her maternity break, she lastly seemed to have regained her mojo after reaching the Montreal ultimate final month.
Her partnership with new coach Tomasz Wiktorowski seems to be working and Osaka mentioned she by no means doubted she may get again to this stage within the majors.
“You need to think about it, after which you must imagine it for it to truly come true,” she advised reporters after displaying off one more bejeweled Labubu allure she had named “Althea Glitterson,” in honour of the late pioneer Gibson.
And, regardless of her struggles, Osaka mentioned she by no means thought of giving up the game for good.
“To hold up my racket for me completely could be a really scary factor,” she mentioned. “It’s like respiration air to me.”
Swiatek cruises into quarters
A laser-focused Iga Swiatek barely broke sweat as the previous U.S. Open champion methodically dismantled Russian thirteenth seed Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-3 6-1 and booked her return to the quarterfinals in New York.
The 24-year-old’s crushing win on Louis Armstrong Stadium meant that she turned the youngest lady to succeed in no less than the quarterfinals of all 4 Grand Slams in a single season since 18-year-old Maria Sharapova managed the feat in 2005.
Swiatek was typing away furiously on her cellphone as she waited for her on-court interview afterwards and mentioned she was sending a message to her coach Wim Fissette.
“I requested him to e book a apply court docket for 10 minutes, if attainable,” the world quantity two mentioned, earlier than she defined what labored nicely in serving to her attain her thirteenth main quarter-final.
“I’d say the depth and focus. At first I felt like she performed quick and the court docket is completely different. I wished to search out my rhythm afterwards and I used to be in my bubble.
“I compelled the ball to go in. I’m pleased with the standard.”
The Polish second seed subsequent faces Amanda Anisimova in a repeat of the Wimbledon ultimate, which Swiatek received 6-0, 6-0.
