Naomi Osaka storms past Gauff, Sinner crushes Bublik, and Swiatek stays unstoppable in commanding fourth-round wins.
Osaka Crushes Gauff in Statement Win
Naomi Osaka returned to the US Open spotlight with a commanding victory over third seed Coco Gauff in the fourth round on Monday, winning 6-3, 6-2 in a highly anticipated clash between two former champions. In front of a packed Arthur Ashe Stadium on Labor Day, the 27-year-old Japanese star delivered a flawless performance, breaking Gauff in the opening game and never looking back.
“This is my favourite court in the world and it means so much to be back,” said a beaming Osaka after the match. “I’m just enjoying it. I’m having fun.”
Now a mother and two-time US Open champion, Osaka is experiencing her deepest Grand Slam run since her 2021 Australian Open victory. She had taken a break from the tour in 2023 to give birth to her daughter and has slowly worked her way back into top form.
Gauff, meanwhile, struggled with 33 unforced errors and admitted feeling emotionally drained. “I think emotionally, how much this week was… today I just stepped in, and I maybe was a little bit empty,” she confessed.
Osaka will face 11th seed Karolina Muchova in the quarter-finals, after the Czech star outlasted Marta Kostyuk 6-3, 6-7 (0), 6-3.
Sinner and Swiatek Dominate in Straight Sets
World No. 1 Jannik Sinner was ruthless in the night session, dismantling Alexander Bublik 6-1, 6-1, 6-1 in just 81 minutes. Bublik, who had not dropped serve all tournament, was broken eight times as Sinner surged into the quarter-finals.
“He didn’t serve as well as usual and I broke him early,” Sinner noted. “I’m very happy with my performance.”
Sinner will next face fellow Italian Lorenzo Musetti, who advanced to his first US Open quarter-final by crushing Jaume Munar 6-3, 6-0, 6-1.
Meanwhile, Iga Swiatek, the Polish world No. 2 and reigning Wimbledon champion, eased past Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-3, 6-1 to reach the last eight. Swiatek, who’s on an 11-match Grand Slam win streak, was in control throughout and will now face Amanda Anisimova in a repeat of the Wimbledon final, which Swiatek famously won 6-0, 6-0.
Anisimova earned her place in the quarters with a convincing 6-0, 6-3 win over 18th seed Beatriz Haddad Maia.
Other Notable Results
-
Alex de Minaur (AUS) continued his impressive run, dismantling Swiss qualifier Leandro Riedi 6-3, 6-2, 6-1 to reach his sixth Grand Slam quarter-final.
-
De Minaur will face Felix Auger-Aliassime, who reached his first Grand Slam quarter-final since 2021 by defeating Andrey Rublev 7-5, 6-3, 6-4.
-
“It feels even better than the first time,” said Auger-Aliassime, reflecting on his return to the last eight at age 25 after a stretch of injuries and setbacks.
