Naomi Osaka landed a major victory after years of being on and off the court. The 27-year-old defeated Coco Gauff with a 6-3 6-2 win in the fourth round of the US Open on Monday. This marks a triumphant return to the sport for Osaka, whose last major win was in the third round of the 2022 Australian Open.
Naomi Osaka gave Coco Gauff her flowers
The two players competed against each other for the very first time in 2019, in the third round of the US Open. At the time, Gauff was just 15-years-old and was defeated by Osaka, who was well established in the sport.
“Coco is one of the best players in the world. I have the most fun when I play against the best players. I always see it as a challenge. I like challenges,” Osaka said after Monday’s victory, according to the BBC. “These are the moments that I play tennis for.”
Gauff, who previously won the 2023 US Open and the 2025 French Open, said she won’t let the loss affect her negatively.
“I felt so discombobulated on the court, because I was serving well but not returning well. The last two years, everybody can agree that’s like a weird thought,” she said. “I think there’s a lot of positives to take from this tournament and I’m trying to be positive.
“I promise you that, I don’t feel that way right now, but I am not going to let this crush me,” Gauff added.
Naomi Osaka has qualified for her first Grand Slam quarterfinals since 2021
“I’m a little sensitive and I don’t want to cry, but honestly, I just had so much fun out here,” Osaka said after Monday’s match, according to ESPN. “I was telling everyone, literally I was in the stands two months after I gave birth to my daughter, watching Coco. I just really wanted an opportunity to come out here and play. This is my favorite court in the world, and it means so much to me to be back here.”
Osaka previously won the 2018 and 2020 US Opens, as well as the 2019 and 2021 Australian Opens. The tennis champion then went on to skip Wimbledon and lost in the third rounds of the Tokyo Olympics and the US Open. At the time, Osaka opened up about her struggles with mental health and mentioned potentially taking a break from the sport.
“I feel like for me recently, like, when I win, I don’t feel happy,” Osaka said. “I feel more like a relief. And then when I lose, I feel very sad. I don’t think that’s normal.”
Osaka returned to tennis in 2022 and lost in the third round of the Australian Open. She then announced her pregnancy in 2023. That same year, Osaka watched Gauff as she climbed up the rankings at the US Open and eventually won the title.
Tennis fans grew skeptical of Osaka’s return to the sport. Monday’s victory marks a significant win for the tennis champion. Next, Osaka will compete in the quarterfinals against Karolina Muchova on Wednesday.
