NEW YORK — The last time Coco Gauff and Naomi Osaka met at the US Open six years ago, the emotions for a then-15-year-old Gauff were overwhelming, with her bursting into tears at the end of the 6-3, 6-0 third-round defeat.
It was Gauff’s first appearance on the big stage of Arthur Ashe Stadium, but on Monday, a resurgent Osaka was the one fighting back tears. The No. 23 seed again got the best of her fellow former US Open champion and someone she affectionately calls her ‘little sister,’ advancing to the quarterfinals with a rather efficient 6-3, 6-2 victory in front of a packed Arthur Ashe Stadium on Sept. 1, 2025.
Gauff’s issues from earlier matches in the tournament reared their ugly head again, with a flurry of unforced errors and double faults, putting her down early as Osaka, a two-time winner at Flushing Meadows, sat back, waited patiently to capitalize on every mistake, and worked her forehand to win points along the baseline.
The problems started early, as Gauff, the No. 3 seed, was broken on her initial serve. Then, serving to stay in the first set, she started off with an ace but faltered, double-faulting twice, the last one giving Osaka the set.
Gauff was serving to stay in the match, and held a 40-15 lead, only to suffer another meltdown, and Osaka celebrated her victory when Gauff’s return of her effective forehand return hit the net.
It is the fifth time Osaka has reached a Grand Slam quarterfinal, and she has gone on to win that title each time. She also advanced to the quarterfinals for the first time since the 2021 Australian Open, the last of her four Grand Slam titles.
“I’m a little sensitive and I don’t want to cry, but I had so much fun out here,’ Osaka said in a post-match interview. ‘I was in the stands two months after I gave birth to my daughter, watching Coco. I really wanted an opportunity to come out here and play. This is my favorite court in the world. It means so much to me to be back here. ‘
“I look up to her. The way she conducts herself is really special. To be such an amazing role model at such a young age, it’s a gift. I have all the respect in the world for her.’
Osaka’s quarterfinal opponent will be No. 11 seed Karolína Muchová, a 6-3, 6-7 (0-7), 6-3 winner over No. 27 seed Marta Kostyuk.
USA TODAY had full coverage of the match between Naomi Osaka and Coco Gauff. Scroll below for a recap and highlights:
Osaka seems primed for victory
Two games away from victory, Osaka has played a steady match so far, limiting her mistakes and capitalizing on opportunities when Gauff’s game has gone astray. In the sixth game, Gauff again couldn’t get together and was broken, giving Osaka a 4-2 advantage.
Osaka takes the first set
Naomi Osaka is halfway home, a set away from the quarterfinals, winning the first set 6-3, as Gauff double-faulted and is broken on her service game to stay in the set. Gauff had 14 unforced errors in the set.
Gauff having issues with errors
Naomi Osaka is continuing to put the pressure on Gauff, and continues to be up a break at 4-2; Gauff, at times, is having trouble returning Osaka’s serve, and several rallies have ended up in the net for unforced errors
Osaka takes two-game lead over Gauff
Osaka is in control in the early part of the match, as Gauff was broken on her serve and Osaka powered through with a clean sweep of games, thanks to several enforced errors by the 2023 U.S. Open champion.
Packed house for Gauff vs. Osaka
It is more than 20,000 strong at Arthur Ashe Stadium for the sixth meeting between Coco Gauff and Naomi Osaka. Gauff leads the head-to-head matchup 3-2, including victories in the last two meetings (2022 San Jose and 2024 Beijing).
Osaka’s first win over Gauff came at the 2019 US Open in the third round, with Gauff winning the next time they met at a Grand Slam, a third-round victory at the 2020 Australian Open.
What time is Gauff vs Osaka from the US Open?
The Round of 16 match between No. 3 seed Coco Gauff and No. 23 seed Naomi Osaka is the second match in Arthur Ashe Stadium on Monday, Sept. 1. It will take place immediately following the match between No. 25 seed Felix Auger-Aliassime and No. 15 seed Andrey Rublev, which is scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m. ET.
Gauff and Osaka are likely to begin play in the early afternoon on Monday.
How to watch Osaka vs. Gauff
No. 23 seed Naomi Osaka will face No. 3 seed Coco Gauff in a U.S. Open women’s singles fourth-round matchup on Monday, Sept. 1, on ESPN.
Date: Monday, Sept. 1
Time: TBD, early afternoon ET
TV channel: ESPN
Streaming: ESPN+ and Fubo (free trial)
Watch the US Open with Fubo
How to watch all the 2025 US Open action: Dates, TV, streaming
Dates: Sunday, Aug. 24-Sunday, Sept. 7
Location: USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center (New York)
TV channels: ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes (Spanish language)
Streaming: ESPN+ and Fubo (free trial)