Naomi Osaka is officially back in the spotlight — and back in the final stages of a Grand Slam. On Monday night, Sept. 1, the four-time major champion defeated Coco Gauff 6-3, 6-2 inside Arthur Ashe Stadium, reaching her first Grand Slam quarterfinal since the 2021 Australian Open.
From the first ball, Osaka carried herself with a calm intensity, whispering “Come on” between points and tapping her thigh for focus. Once rallies began, her trademark power and precision returned in full force, producing clean winners and dictating the tempo of the match.
“This is kind of uncharted territory at this point of my career,” said Osaka, 27, who was born in Japan and raised in the U.S. from the age of three. “I’m just enjoying it. I’m having fun. I’m being able to play against the best players in the world.”
Osaka Dominates Gauff with Precision and Power
Gauff, the tournament’s No. 3 seed and reigning U.S. Open and French Open champion, struggled to find her rhythm. Her frustration showed in body language as she gestured toward her team, covered her face with her hand, and appeared unsettled throughout.
She finished with 33 unforced errors, 20 off the forehand side alone, compared with just 12 for Osaka. Meanwhile, Osaka won 32 of 38 service points, landing 15 of 16 first serves and never facing a break point. She also converted all four break opportunities against Gauff.
“She forced me to earn every point out there today,” Gauff admitted afterward. Still, she vowed: “I am not going to let this crush me.”
Watch highlights of the match in the video link below:
A Return to the Big Stage
Osaka’s victory is her most emphatic since returning to tennis last season following a 17-month maternity leave. Her daughter, Shai, was born in July 2023. The moment was particularly emotional for Osaka, who has been candid about her battles with anxiety and depression since 2021, when she helped spark a global conversation on mental health in sports.
“I’m a little sensitive, and I don’t want to cry, but, honestly, I just had so much fun out here,” Osaka told the crowd, reflecting on how special it felt to win again on Arthur Ashe Stadium, the same court where she claimed her first Grand Slam title in 2018.
What’s Next
Osaka will next face No. 11 seed Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic, who advanced with a three-set win over Marta Kostyuk. Muchova, a 2023 French Open runner-up and two-time U.S. Open semifinalist, defeated Osaka in the second round at Flushing Meadows last year.
For Osaka, however, Monday night was about more than the scoreline. It was a statement that she is once again a contender at the top of women’s tennis.
