US Open: Osaka Dominates Gauff; Swiatek Rolls into Quarters
Naomi Osaka delivered an electrifying performance at the US Open on Monday, crushing American favorite Coco Gauff in the fourth round with a decisive 6-3, 6-2 victory. This match, held on Labor Day in New York, showcased the former champion’s remarkable return to form as she secured her place in the quarterfinals.
Osaka, a two-time US Open champion, came out strong, breaking Gauff’s serve in the very first game. The match unfolded in front of an enthusiastic crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium, but it quickly became evident that Gauff was struggling. The young star committed 33 unforced errors, allowing Osaka to dominate the court and maintain control throughout the match.
“This is my favorite court in the world, and it means so much to me to be back today,” Osaka remarked after her victory. She expressed her excitement about advancing further into the tournament, stating, “This is kind of uncharted territory at this point in my career. I’m just enjoying it. I’m having fun.”
This victory marks Osaka’s deepest run in a major tournament since she won her second Australian Open title in 2021. After taking a break from tennis following the birth of her daughter in 2023, Osaka has been steadily regaining her form. Reflecting on her journey, she shared, “I was in the stands two months after I gave birth watching Coco, and I just really wanted an opportunity to come out here and play.”
Gauff, the world No. 3 and third seed, acknowledged the mental toll of the tournament’s early stages. “I think emotionally how much this week was, I think today I just stepped in, and I maybe was a little bit empty,” she admitted.
Osaka’s next challenge will be against Czech 11th seed Karolina Muchova, who advanced after defeating Ukrainian 27th seed Marta Kostyuk in a tough three-set match. Muchova is looking to reach her third consecutive semifinal at Flushing Meadows.
In other matches, Iga Swiatek continued her impressive run, defeating Russian 13th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-3, 6-1 in just under an hour. Swiatek, who has extended her Grand Slam winning streak to 11 matches, expressed satisfaction with her performance, saying, “I felt like in the beginning she played fast, but later on, I felt in my bubble, in the zone.”
Men’s eighth seed Alex de Minaur also secured a spot in the quarterfinals with a commanding 6-3, 6-2, 6-1 win over Swiss qualifier Leandro Riedi. De Minaur displayed his intent to compete for big titles, stating, “Ultimately this is where I want to be—I want to be playing for big titles.”
He will face Canadian 25th seed Felix Auger-Aliassime, who advanced to his first Grand Slam quarterfinal in three years after defeating Andrey Rublev in straight sets. Auger-Aliassime reflected on his journey back to this stage, sharing, “It feels even better than the first time.”
Italian 10th seed Lorenzo Musetti also made headlines by demolishing unseeded Spaniard Jaume Munar 6-3, 6-0, 6-1 to reach his first US Open quarterfinal.
