NEW YORK — Former champions Coco Gauff and Naomi Osaka will go head-to-head in a blockbuster fourth-round matchup on the US Open on Monday night time, after reserving their locations within the final 16 in contrasting types.
Gauff cruised previous Magdalena Frech of Poland 6-3, 6-1, whereas Osaka battled previous Australia’s Daria Kasatkina 6-0, 4-6, 6-3 to make the fourth spherical of a serious for the primary time since she gained the Australian Open in 2021.
This might be their sixth match in all, and first on the US Open since 2019 — their first assembly — when Osaka beat the then-15-year-old Gauff 6-3, 6-0. Gauff obtained her revenge on the Australian Open in 2020 of their subsequent match, then they traded off the following two. Most lately, Gauff superior in Beijing in 2024, when Osaka retired by means of harm at one set all, making the general report 3-2.
It is a pivotal match for each gamers. For Gauff, it is the possibility to succeed in the quarters for the third time in 4 years. For Osaka, it is a chance to reestablish herself on the enterprise finish of a serious for the primary time since she turned a mom.
1:29
Coco Gauff cruises in straight-sets win at US Open
Magdalena Frech vs. Coco Gauff: Match Highlights
What Gauff has to do to win
One half is straightforward: If she serves nicely, she may have an amazing probability to win.
Nobody has served extra double faults than her prior to now three years — she is closing in on 1,000 because the begin of 2023. And her serve stays a piece in progress beneath the steering of Gavin MacMillan, the person who cured Aryna Sabalenka’s serving woes just a few years in the past.
Gauff has been reducing down on her tempo in an effort to get extra first serves in and take the stress off her second serve, which continues to be shaky at occasions. Osaka is an aggressive returner, so something quick might be punished, which in itself might be a stress. However nobody battles tougher than Gauff, and she’s going to combat like her life will depend on it.
However even when she would not serve nicely, Gauff has proven exceptional resilience, and as she proved on the French Open, she will even win slams when not at her greatest.
1:35
Naomi Osaka prevails in 3 units at US Open
Daria Kasatkina vs. Naomi Osaka: Match Highlights
What Osaka has to do to win
Osaka has been returning even higher than Gauff thus far on this match, making 83% of balls again, on common, and successful a median of 38% when returning first serve and a large 73% when returning the second serve.
That spells bother for Gauff if she misses first serves too usually, as a result of Osaka will pounce on something quick. Her motion is vastly improved over current months and her confidence is up. When she is in place to crack a forehand or backhand, she’s mighty harmful, dominating the 0-4 photographs class.
When Osaka is at her greatest, she excels in first-strike tennis, and if she continues to hit the ball the way in which she has been, she ought to get loads of alternatives to dominate rallies in opposition to Gauff, whose counterpunching expertise might be examined.
What they’re saying about one another
Gauff on their 2019 US Open match: “I bear in mind it was a troublesome second for me as a result of it was a hyped-up match. I assume I put means an excessive amount of stress on myself considering I possibly had an opportunity in that second to really do one thing, which I undoubtedly did, however I feel it was simply I felt extra expectation that I ought to than possibly perception. Then after I performed her in Australia, that was extra perception than expectation. It will be a cool type of déjà vu sort of state of affairs, however hopefully will probably be a special outcome.”
Osaka on Gauff: “Can any person come to the match and cheer for me as a result of it is type of robust enjoying an American right here? I type of see her as a bit of sister so it is type of cool to be enjoying her right here once more. To be enjoying her once more after six years, I do not know if that makes me outdated, however simply to be at this level of my life and to be enjoying her once more is truthfully, for me, feels type of particular. I am truthfully excited to play her now, as a result of I really feel wholesome, and I simply wish to see what occurs.”
Who will win?
Contemplating that Osaka has not reached the quarters of a Slam since 2021, it is unusual that this match appears like a little bit of a toss-up. However she has confidence from reaching the ultimate in Canada and is starting to seem like the girl who has 4 Grand Slams to her title, whereas Gauff continues to be combating herself as she tries to repair her service motion.
Aside from their final assembly, when Osaka retired injured after the second set, the participant who wins the primary set has gained in all the opposite 4 clashes, so a quick begin is crucial. Gauff may have the group on her facet however that brings its personal stress, whereas Osaka is enjoying nice tennis once more, so this threatens to be the type of match that might spark an actual rivalry for the following few years.
Prediction: Three units, to Osaka.
