Naomi Osaka (left) of Japan greets Coco Gauff of the United States after their match in the fourth round of the US Open tennis championships in Queens, New York, September 1, 2025. KIRSTY WIGGLESWORTH / AP
Naomi Osaka smiled before her US Open showdown against Coco Gauff began Monday, September 1, as well as after it ended. Between points, Osaka patted her left thigh and quietly told herself, almost in a whisper: "Come on. Come on." Once the ball was in play, Osaka's strokes were loud and on-target, producing the sort of confident, consistent and power-swinging tennis that carried her to four Grand Slam titles and the No. 1 ranking.
In the biggest statement yet that she is back at the height of her game and a real contender for the sport's highest honors, Osaka eliminated Gauff 6-3, 6-2 in Arthur Ashe Stadium to reach her first major quarterfinal in more than four and a half years. "I was super locked-in, to be honest. I was really locked in," said 27-year-old Osaka, who was born in Japan and moved to the US with her family at age 3. "I felt like everyone wanted to watch a really great match, and I hope that's what you got."
From her side, it certainly was. The No. 23-seeded Osaka was better throughout than No. 3 Gauff, whose repeated mistakes during a tournament that's been a near-constant struggle for her really made the difference. And Gauff's body language was quite a contrast to Osaka's. Gauff repeatedly would put her palms up or cover her face with a hand or gesture toward her team in the stands, looking confused or upset.
