US Open Day 7 Women’s Recap: Swiatek Tested, Osaka Sets Up Gauff Clash

Day 7 of the women’s draw at the US Open saw the top contenders hold firm. Iga Swiatek was made to work hard again but moved through in straight sets, while Coco Gauff and Naomi Osaka both advanced to set up a blockbuster round of 16 meeting. Amanda Anisimova, Marta Kostyuk, Karolina Muchova, Ekaterina Alexandrova, and Beatriz Haddad Maia also booked their places in the next round, giving the tournament one of its strongest-looking second-week lineups in years.

Who Looked Good

Coco Gauff continued her smooth progress through the draw with another straight-sets win. The former champion controlled the baseline exchanges with her forehand and moved forward decisively when given the chance. Her consistency underlined why she remains one of the favorites to go all the way.

Naomi Osaka battled through her toughest match of the tournament so far, defeating Daria Kasatkina 6-0 4-6 6-3. Although she dipped in the second set, her serve came alive in the decider, helping her close it out and set up a mouthwatering clash with Gauff in the next round.

Ekaterina Alexandrova showcased her trademark variety in a comfortable straight-sets 6-0 6-1 victory. Mixing spins, slices, and net approaches, she kept her opponent guessing throughout.

Beatriz Haddad Maia impressed with her baseline power and composure, overwhelming Maria Sakkari 6-1 6-2. Her stamina and lefty angles proved decisive as she dominated the rallies from start to finish.

Who Looked Bad

Iga Swiatek advanced but was again made to work. For the second match running, the World No. 1 looked a little rushed against an aggressive opponent, edging Anna Kalinskaya 7-6 6-4. While she remains in the draw, her aura of invincibility has wavered slightly.

Laura Siegemund suffered the heaviest defeat of the day, winning just one game in a 6-0 6-1 loss to Alexandrova. The German star never found her footing, her serve repeatedly broken and her groundstrokes leaking errors. It was a stunningly one-sided result for a player of her caliber and one that raises serious questions about her confidence moving forward.

Maria Sakkari endured the roughest outing of the day, falling 6-1 6-2 to Haddad Maia in just over an hour. The Greek managed only three games across two sets and never looked settled, struggling to match her opponent’s power or consistency. It was a disappointing showing for a player who entered the tournament hoping to build momentum.

Match of the Day

The pick of Day 7 was Naomi Osaka vs Daria Kasatkina, which Osaka won 6-0 4-6 6-3. The former World No. 1 came out flying, dominating the opening set, before Kasatkina’s guile and defense turned the match into a real contest. Osaka was forced to reset after dropping the second, but she raised her level in the decider, with her serve and forehand firing at crucial moments.

The victory not only extended Osaka’s stay in New York but also set up a tantalizing round of 16 showdown with Coco Gauff — a meeting between two US Open champions and two of the sport’s biggest stars.