Tennis fans are in for a Labor Day treat as Naomi Osaka and Coco Gauff meet at the U.S. Open on Monday in their first clash since 2019.
The fourth-round match, scheduled for prime time, is being billed as one of the marquee showdowns of the tournament — a rematch that feels like history repeating itself.
Their last meeting at Flushing Meadows was six years ago, when a then-15-year-old Gauff took on defending champion Osaka in the third round. Osaka swept the match 6-3, 6-0, but what stood out most was her compassion afterward.
As Gauff dissolved into tears, Osaka comforted her and invited her to share the spotlight with the crowd — a sportsmanship moment that remains one of the most memorable in recent U.S. Open history.
Now, both players arrive at Arthur Ashe Stadium with more experience, more accomplishments, and new storylines.
Gauff: From Prodigy to Champion
Gauff enters the match as the third seed, fresh off her second major title at the French Open earlier this year. She also made history at last year’s U.S. Open, where a record 3.4 million viewers tuned in to see her lift the trophy — more than watched Novak Djokovic win his 24th major the next day.
Reflecting on her 2019 match against Osaka, Gauff admitted she put too much pressure on herself as a teenager.
“It was a hyped-up match. I guess I put way too much pressure on myself,” she said. “It would be a cool kind of déjà vu type of situation (playing again), but hopefully it will be a different result.”
Osaka: A Champion Rebuilding
Osaka, now the 23rd seed, is no stranger to U.S. Open glory, having lifted the trophy in 2018 and 2020. After also winning the 2021 Australian Open, her career took a pause as she battled injuries, mental health challenges, and later welcomed her first child in 2023.
She returned this season with renewed energy, reaching the Montreal final and slowly building her form. For Osaka, this rematch with Gauff represents both a test and a celebration of resilience.
“Sometimes I think about me before I had my pregnancy break… my age was pretty young when I was doing some of the stuff that I was doing. I have to give myself a lot of grace on that,” she said.
Osaka added that she recognized Gauff’s potential early on:
“I remember just knowing that she was going to be a really great tennis player. It’s been a real pleasure to see how she’s kind of navigated herself and been a role model to a lot of young people.”
Why This Match Matters
The Osaka–Gauff rivalry symbolizes two parallel tennis journeys: Gauff’s rise as America’s newest star and Osaka’s comeback as a champion fighting to reclaim her dominance. Tennis great Venus Williams praised the rematch as a boost for the sport.
“Everyone will be watching,” Williams said. “That’s what tennis needs.”
For fans, Monday’s match is more than just a fourth-round contest — it’s a story of growth, resilience, and the kind of sportsmanship that transcends the scoreline.
