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Naomi Osaka Has Kind Words for ‘Amazing Role Model’ Coco Gauff After Knocking Her Out of US Open

Originally posted on FirstSportz | By Gouri Das | Last updated Sep 2, 2025 9:37 AM ET

Naomi Osaka has finally made a deep run in a Grand Slam tournament for the first time since her victory at the 2021 Australian Open. In a fourth-round match at the US Open between Grand Slam champions held on Monday (September 1), Osaka knocked out Coco Gauff 6-3, 6-2 to book a spot in the quarterfinals for the first time since her victory here in 2020.

Osaka has improved her head-to-head matchups against Gauff to 3-3. Gauff, who also lost to Osaka in the third round of the 2019 US Open playing as a 15-year-old, has now crashed out of this event for the second consecutive time without reaching the last eight.

I feel like, to be such an amazing role model at such a young age is a gift, and it’s a talent that she has, and I have all the respect in the world for her.
Naomi Osaka said during her on-court interview

The 2018 and 2020 US Open champion is bidding to win her first tour-level title since the 2021 Australian Open. Since clinching her fourth Grand Slam title in Melbourne, the 27-year-old has lost three finals, including two this year- at the ASB Classic (gave a walkover to Clara Tauson) and at the Canadian Open (lost in three sets to home favorite Victoria Mboko).

On the other hand, Gauff’s 2025 Grand Slam campaigns this season have ended. The only Major title she lifted this year was the French Open by beating Aryna Sabalenka. It was also her first and only singles title of the season so far. Apart from the Roland Garros, the 21-year-old also progressed to the finals of the Madrid Open and Italian Open, losing both to Sabalenka and Jasmine Paolini, respectively.

Naomi Osaka will face Karolina Muchova next

This year, before the US Open, Naomi Osaka failed to reach the fourth round of the first three Majors. But to inch closer to her fifth Grand Slam title, the Japanese ace has to overcome Karolina Muchova in the quarterfinals.

Muchova, the 2023 French Open finalist, is bidding to reach three back-to-back semifinals at the US Open. Although Osaka dropped a set only against 15th seed Daria Kasatkina in the third round, Muchova won all her previous matches in three sets, including against Marta Kostyuk in the previous round.

So for me, like whatever happens the rest of this tournament, the rest of Asia, I’m just, you know, trying to be a better tennis player and learn from every match that I play. But I know my match against Muchova is going to be really tough for me. She’s always been one of the most talented tennis players out there. And physically, like, she moves really well, and she’s very strong. So, it’s going to be a really tough challenge.
Naomi Osaka said at the press conference

The upcoming match will be Osaka’s first encounter with Muchova. The 29-year-old is a winner of just one WTA singles title- the 2019 Korea Open.

Apart from that, she has played five more finals, losing all. This year, the Czech ace has not yet played a singles final and last reached this stage at the 2024 China Open (lost to Coco Gauff). Muchova has reached the quarterfinal of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time this year and lost in the previous three Majors without making it to the third round.

If Osaka reaches the semifinal, she could see herself pitted against none other than Iga Swiatek, who in the quarterfinals will be up against Amanda Anisimova in a rematch of this year’s Wimbledon final. Because of Osaka, Swiatek was on the verge of crashing out in the second round of last year’s Roland Garros, also the last time they faced each other.

This article first appeared on FirstSportz and was syndicated with permission.

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