Osaka sends Gauff packing to get the quarters
Naomi Osaka delivered a dominant performance to defeat home-favorite Coco Gauff, securing a commanding upset and advancing to her first Grand Slam quarterfinal since the 2021 Australian Open
Naomi Osaka, US Open 2025 | © Imago / PsNewz
It was supposed to be the match of the day but it was a onesider. Naomi Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, orchestrated a stunning upset on Monday at the US Open, defeating fifth-ranked Coco Gauff to advance to her first Grand Slam quarterfinal since the 2021 Australian Open (6-3, 6-2).
From the opening game, Osaka dismantled the narrative around Gauff’s superiority with an aggressive and highly effective strategy that left the American struggling to find a rhythm.
“It’s been a long road back,” Osaka reflected on court. “To be able to play at this level again, in front of this crowd, it means everything. My serve was a huge key for me today. I’ve been working so hard on it, and it’s nice to see that pay off.”
Osaka : “she’s such a good runner”
When asked about her game plan, Osaka was direct. “I knew I had to be aggressive and take the racket out of her hands,” she said. “She’s such a great defender. My focus was on getting my first serves in and not giving her anything to work with. I think that worked well.”
Osaka won a staggering 94% of points on her first serve, consistently dictating play and preventing Gauff from establishing control in rallies. In stark contrast, Gauff only managed to secure 53% of points on her first serve, leaving her vulnerable and under constant pressure.
Osaka converted 100% of her four opportunities, capitalizing on all three chances she had to break Gauff’s serve. Gauff, by comparison, failed to have any break point chance. Osaka simply outplayed her opponent. The 11 unforced errors for Osaka, compared to Gauff’s 33, were a minor footnote in an otherwise brilliant performance defined by her power and precision.
Next match will see Osaka play against Martha Kostyuk (N.27) or Karolina Muchova (N.11)
