Osaka Victorious Over Gauff, Set to Face Muchova

NEW YORK: In a highly anticipated fourth-round matchup at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Monday, Naomi Osaka displayed flashes of her past brilliance, defeating third-seeded Coco Gauff 6-3, 6-2. The contest featured two former US Open champions.

Osaka seized the initiative early, securing a break against Gauff in the first game and maintaining command throughout the match.

Gauff, in contrast, struggled to find her rhythm, marked by five double faults and a series of unforced errors. A missed serve on match point epitomized her struggles.

The four-time Grand Slam winner seems revitalized in her recent return, building upon her performance in Montreal and flourishing with the guidance of coach Tomasz Wiktorowski.

Reflecting on her victory, Osaka expressed that her primary focus was on enjoying the present moment rather than solely fixating on the outcome.

“The main takeaway I want from this tournament is simply smiling and enjoying myself,” Osaka stated.

She added, “To be honest, I have the most enjoyment when I compete against the top players.”

Osaka’s next challenge is against 11th seed Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic in Tuesday’s quarter-final. Notably, Osaka has consistently won a Grand Slam title each time she has advanced to the quarter-final stage of a major tournament.

Despite previous difficulties, the Japanese star emphasized that she never seriously contemplated retiring from tennis entirely.

“To permanently hang up my racket would be quite a frightening prospect,” she confessed. “It’s as essential to me as breathing.”