Osaka Back In US Open Quarterfinals For First Time In Five Years

Naomi Osaka
Naomi Osaka (photo: Jürgen Hasenkopf)

NEW YORK/WASHINGTON, September 2, 2025 (by Michael Dickens)

After two-time US Open champion Naomi Osaka wrapped up her duel of champions against 2023 titlist Coco Gauff with a convincing 6-3, 6-2 victory before nearly 24,000 fans that filled Arthur Ashe Stadium Monday afternoon, the American No. 1 was resigned to accepting her fourth-round loss. It was over in a mere 64 minutes.

On this day, Osaka simply was the better player.

Gauff offered a simple gesture of “nice match” as she and the Japanese superstar hugged at the net following the conclusion of the most-anticipated match of the Labor Day holiday weekend.

The No. 23 seed Osaka’s dominance against the third-seeded Gauff, who earlier this season won her second major at the French Open, was evident from first ball to last ball. She played with balance, showed power in her strokes and remained upbeat throughout the contest.

While the four-time major champion Osaka conceded only five games to Gauff, she didn’t face any break points. It all added up to her returning to the US Open quarterfinals for the first time in five years – first time since her daughter Shai was born in 2023 – and it’s her first last eight at a Grand Slam since 2021 at the Australian Open. 

It should be noted that Osaka is 12-0 once she’s reached the quarterfinal round of a major – and every time she’s reached the quarterfinals at a Grand Slam, she’s gone on to win the title. Monday’s victory also puts Osaka back in the Top 20.

Six years ago, Osaka defeated a then-15-year-old Gauff, 6-3, 6-0, in a third-round match at the US Open, in which the American walked off the court in tears. A lot has happened to both players since then – plenty of highs and lows – and coaching changes, too. Most recently, Osaka parted ways with Patrick Mouratoglou, who formerly coached Serena Williams, and is now coached by Tomasz Wiktorowski, who helped develop Swiatek into a formidable champion. Meanwhile, Gauff recently brought in a biomechanics specialist, Gavin MacMillan, in hopes of adjusting problems with her serve and forehand.

During her on-court interview with ESPN‘s Mary Joe Fernandez afterward, the 27-year-old Osaka was reminded of the last time she and Gauff met on Arthur Ashe Stadium during the US Open. “I mean I’m a little sensitive – I don’t want to cry,” Osaka said, smiling. “Honestly I had so much fun out here.

“This is my favorite court in the world, and it means so much to be back here.”

In scoring her first Top-3 victory since 2019, when she defeated Ashleigh Barry at the China Open, Osaka dropped just one point on her first serve, winning 15 of 16 (94 percent) first-serve points. Although Osaka hit just 10 winners, she also only made 12 unforced errors. By comparison, Gauff managed a mere eight winners while accumulating 33 unforced errors. Osaka converted all four of her break-points opportunities. She outpointed Gauff 55-33, taking advantage of her opponent’s early nerves and struggles with her service games, in which she accumulated five double faults. 

With Monday’s victory, Osaka tied her career head-to-head against Gauff at 3-all.

During her post-match news conference, Osaka added: “I’m just enjoying it. I’m having fun. I’m being able to play against the best players in the world. If you were to ask me what was the most exciting thing from today, I think it’s that I don’t need a wild card to enter tournaments anymore.”

Next, Osaka will play No. 11 seed Karolina Muchova of Czechia, who has been a US Open semifinalist in each of the past two years. Monday afternoon on the Grandstand, Muchova defeated No. 27 seed Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine, 6-3, 6-7 (0), 6-3, in two hours and 53 minutes – overcoming physical challenges, including a medical time out to address a back issue, as well as momentum swings.

Although Kostyuk was ahead in many statistical categories – she produced 44 winners to 20 for Muchova – in the end, it was Muchova’s steadiness that pushed her over the top. She converted three of six break-point chances and saved nine of 10 break points she faced from her opponent. Muchova outpointed Kostyuk 105-103.

“It was so physical, such a tough match. Marta was everywhere,” Muchova said during her on-court interview afterward. “It was really tough, I was just trying to fight for every point. And the crowd’s energy was great, thank you guys. I was struggling a bit, but trying to fight.

“I love this tournament, so I was just going to give it my all and see, and now I’m standing here.”

Emotional Musetti lets his tennis racquet do his talking

Until Monday, Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti had never advanced to the quarterfinals at a hard-court major. After a dreadful tuneup for this year’s US Open, in which the 23-year-old Italian went a disappointing 1-3 on the North American hard-court swing, Musetti has found a new spark in New York City.

After being pushed to four sets before defeating Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard of France, Musetti has strung together wins over David Goffin of Belgium, fellow Italian Flavio Cobolli (by retirement) and Spain’s Jaume Munar. 

In his fourth-round victory over the 44th-ranked Munar, completed in an hour and 37 minutes on Louis Armstrong Stadium, the World No. 10 Musetti lost just four games to the Spaniard and won 6-3, 6-0, 6-1 to advance to the quarterfinals round against World No. 1 and defending champion Jannik Sinner of Italy. 

“I can’t explain myself sorry. I’m a little bit emotional right now, because honestly the past month has been terrible,” Musetti said during his on-court interview. “I was a little bit sad about my tennis, my game, my results. … I lost three tough matches with many, many chances.

“Tennis is like this, you have a lot of ups and downs. You have to stay there mentally, and that’s what I’ve done in the last couple of weeks and I’m really proud of myself.”

Against Munar, Musetti won 82 percent (27 of 33) of his first-serve points, hit 27 winners – including seven aces – and converted seven of eight break points. His serve was not broken during the match. He outpointed Munar 79-42, winning with his impressive shotmaking and by merely being consistent throughout the fourth-round match.

“I played a really solid match,” Musetti said. “Especially in the second set, I probably played one of the best sets of my life. I was not missing and it’s really nice when you have that sensation on the court.”

Meanwhile, the top-seeded Sinner eased past No. 23 seed Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan, 6-1, 6-1, 6-1, in a brisk one hour and 21 minutes – the shortest completed men’s singles match of the tournament – on Arthur Ashe Stadium Monday evening.

Sinner was in fine form against Bublik as he won his 25th consecutive hard-court match at a major, which tied him with John McEnroe for the fifth-longest winning streak on hard courts at a Grand Slam. The 24-year-old Italian punched his ticket to his eighth consecutive Grand Slam quarterfinal without much difficultly despite Bublik being just one of two men to defeat Sinner this season – in the second round at Halle on grass last June, which seemed like such a distant memory.

Whatever vulnerability Sinner might have shown two days earlier in struggling to defeat No. 27 seed Dennis Shapovalov of Canada, the South Tyrolean got stronger as the match wore on against Bublik, who reached the fourth round by defeating No. 14 seed Tommy Paul of the United States in a lengthy five-setter. He was dialed in from start to finish and it wasn’t until Sinner led 6-1, 6-1, 4-1 that he finally faced a break point on his serve. Sinner saved it, then held his serve and broke Bublik for the eighth time – closing out the victory when his opponent double-faulted for the 13th time.

In garnering his 35th victory of the 2025 season, Sinner struck 24 winners – including eight aces – and won 81 percent (25 of 31) of his first-serve points. He won 10 of 12 net points, converted eight of 17 break points and saved the only break point he faced. Sinner outpointed Bublik 86-46.

While Bublik had not had his serve broken through the first three rounds of the New York fortnight, Sinner won his first two return games and was off and running. 

“Overall I’m very, very happy,” Sinner said during his on-court interview. “[It was] the first time this year that I can play the night match here and it makes [such] a big difference. I wanted to say thanks everyone for coming, for cheering. This is a very special occasion for us players, so thank you so much.”

With the Musetti-Sinner quarterfinal set for Wednesday, it means an Italian is guaranteed to reach the semifinal round. 

“It’s great to see,” Sinner said. “Italian tennis is in great form now. We have so many players, so many different game styles. Lorenzo is maybe one of the biggest talents we have in our sport, so I’m looking forward for this one. From an Italian point of view it’s great to have for sure one Italian player in the semis.”

Around the US Open

• Six-time major champion Iga Swiatek played like a Grand Slam champion in advancing to the quarterfinal round with a 6-3, 6-1 win over No. 13 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia. The 24-year-old Polish star, who won the US Open title in 2022, hit 21 winners, won all six of her net-exchange points, converted five of eight break-point chances and outpointed Alexandrova 58-39.

Alexandrova, 30, had dropped just 10 games through her first three matches after marching to the Monterrey final the week before the US Open, but she proved no match for Swiatek. It was Swiatek’s fifth win in seven career meetings with the Russian No. 1 and she’s through to her 13th career major quarterfinal – and third one at the US Open.

While Swiatek admitted during her on-court interview that clay has been her favorite surface, she added: “… I think sometimes it’s just easier to enjoy the surfaces where it’s harder to play but you have more freedom to make mistakes and accept them. … It depends. Every month is different. I can play on every surface if I feel good in my game and in my head. I feel confident.”

Next, Swiatek will face No. 8 seed Amanda Anisimova of the United States, in what would be a rematch of this year’s Wimbledon Championships final. The American No. 4 beat No. 18 seed Beatriz Haddad Maia of Brazil, 6-0, 6-3, in 75 minutes Monday evening on Arthur Ashe Stadium to reach her first US Open quarterfinal. Anisimova struck 27 winners, converted six of 18 break points and outpointed Haddad Maia 64-39.

Asked during her on-court interview about facing Swiatek in the quarterfinals, Anisimova said: “Who would’ve thought we’d meet again so soon? I’m super excited. It’s going to be a great match … I hope … this time.”

• Felix Auger-Aliassime delivered a statement win with his 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 fourth-round victory over No. 15 seed Andrey Rublev of Russia in two hours and 16 minutes on Arthur Ashe Stadium Monday afternoon. The victory advanced the 25th seed from Canada into the quarterfinals against No. 8 seed Alex de Minaur of Australia, who ended the run of 435th-ranked Swiss qualifier Leandro Riedi.

The 25-year-old Auger-Aliassime has strung together consecutive Top-20 triumphs after defeating World No. 3 and third seed Alexander Zverev of Germany in four sets that stretched over nearly-four hours on Louis Armstrong Stadium Saturday evening.

A 2021 US Open semifinalist at age 21, Auger-Aliassime has dropped just one set during his four wins to reach the last eight. Against Rublev, he played solid, fearless tennis and maintained control throughout. Auger-Aliassime accumulated 42 winners – including 13 aces – won 83 percent (50 of 60) of his first-serve points, converted four of seven break points and outpointed Rublev 104-80.

“Today is my first time playing on Arthur Ashe [Stadium] in a few years and I think it feels even better than the first time,” Auger-Aliassime expressed during his on-court interview. “At 21, I was on my way up. I had a few setbacks, injuries, struggles with [my] confidence. Then to come back the second time in the quarterfinals here, it feels much better, more deserved.”

After struggling in the past two majors – bowing in the first round at Roland-Garros and second-round at Wimbledon – Auger-Aliassime is enjoying a renewal of his confidence, particularly in his last two matches against Zverev and Rublev.

“To keep my cool and to be more calm and poised [when] finishing the match was the key,” Auger-Aliassime said. “I had many tough battles with Andrey in the past. Sometimes I would be up, like I was today, and he would come back. So it was very important for me to stay ahead and to keep putting pressure all the way until the last point.”

• In the quarterfinal round, Auger-Aliassime will face the World No. 8 de Minaur, who eased past Riedi, 6-3, 6-2, 6-1, in an hour and 33 minutes on Louis Armstrong Stadium. The Aussie No. 1 produced a solid effort that included hitting 21 winners, converting eight of 15 break points and outpointing Riedi 90-57. The 23-year-old’s ninth double fault on match point ended the fourth-round match and advanced de Minaur into his sixth major quarterfinal – and third one at the US Open.

“I’m super proud of what I’m doing,” said de Minaur, who has won 10 ATP Tour-level titles  “Ultimately, this is where I want to be, playing for the big titles, I want to be in contention. I’m putting myself in the right places. I’ve got another great opportunity coming up in the quarterfinals, I’m gonna go out and have a swing.”

• Teaming together for the first time, 45-year-old American icon Venus Williams, a 14-time major titlist in women’s doubles, and 22-year-old Leylah Fernandez of Canada, advanced to the quarterfinal round with a spirited 6-3, 6-4 victory over No. 12 seeds Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia and Zhang Shuai of China in 74 minutes on Louis Armstrong Stadium Monday afternoon.

Williams and Fernandez outpointed their opponents 61-49 to move into the last eight against No. 1 seeds Katerina Siniakova of Czechia and Taylor Townsend of the United States. Siniakova and Townsend downed Camila Osorio of Colombia and Yuan Yue of China, 6-2, 6-2, in 55 minutes on the Grandstand Monday evening.

Also advancing to the quarterfinals were No. 2 seeds Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini of Italy, who defeated Fanny Stollar of Hungary and Wu Fang-Hsien of Taiwan, 6-1, 2-6, 6-3, in one hour and 46 minutes on Stadium 17.

• In men’s doubles, No. 4 seeds Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz of Germany advanced to the third round over American wild cards Cooper Williams and Theodore Winegar, 7-6 (7), 7-6 (3), in two hours and two minutes on the Grandstand Monday afternoon.

Monday’s US Open results

Tuesday’s US Open order of play

By the numbers

• Lorenzo Musetti has joined Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner as only men born in 2000s to reach Grand Slam quarterfinals on clay, grass and hard courts.

• Iga Swiatek is the youngest woman to reach four major quarterfinals in a single season since Maria Sharapova in 2005. Sharapova was 18, Swiatek is 24.

“Quotable …”

“Sometimes I practice it, I’m not gonna lie. I don’t practice it too many times, it’s just if the opportunity is there, I will try. Then in the match, it’s the same. If I have the opportunity, why not? I think the people like it. I like playing tennis like this, so it just came naturally.”

– World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz of Spain, during his on-court interview Sunday after defeating Arthur Rinderknech of France, in which he was describing his behind-the-back half volley winner that dazzled the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd during his fourth-round match.

 

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