Naomi Osaka easily defeats Coco Gauff in highly anticipated Labor Day showdown at US Open

In the highly anticipated match on Monday between two past U.S. Open tennis champions, Naomi Osaka easily prevailed, 6-3, 6-2 over Coco Gauff to make it into the quarter-finals of the fourth and final grand slam event of 2025, the U.S. Open. 

Osaka, 27, who recently said she views Gauff as a “little sister,” has previously won four grand slam events, including the U.S. Open in 2018 and 2020, and the Australia Open in 2019 and 2021, and achieved world number one ranking in 2019, is finally back after having a baby two years ago, and before that having had mental health issues she publicly dealt with following her string of early victories. Born in Japan, Osaka moved to the U.S. at age four. 

Gauff, who turned 21 this year, won the U.S. Open in 2023 and the French Open this year. She has been ranked as high as world number two.

“I was super locked-in,” Osaka said in her interview following the match, according to the New York Post. “I felt like everyone wanted to watch a really great match and I hope that’s what you got.”

“I’m a little sensitive and I don’t want to cry,” Osaka said. “Honestly, I have so much fun out here. I was telling everyone, literally, I was out here in the stands two months after giving birth to my daughter and I was 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 be back here.”