Naomi Osaka, a former world number one and two-time US Open champion, just earned her spot in the quarterfinals of the American Major. This makes it her third time reaching this stage at the US Open. For the 27-year-old Japanese player, it’s her fifth Grand Slam quarterfinal appearance overall. What makes this even more remarkable? It’s her first time making it this far since she became a mother in 2023. Here’s a fun fact: every single time she’s reached the quarterfinals in a Grand Slam before, she ended up winning the entire tournament.
Osaka put on a truly excellent performance to easily beat American fan favorite Coco Gauff. Gauff, who won this very tournament in 2023 and currently ranks third in the world, just couldn’t keep up. Osaka closed out the match 6-3, 6-2 in barely more than an hour, showing she’s definitely back in top form.
Other big names in the women’s draw also moved ahead. Aryna Sabalenka, the world number one from Belarus, smoothly defeated Cristina Bucsa, ranked 95th, with a score of 6-1, 6-4. Poland’s Iga Swiatek, ranked second globally, had an even quicker victory. She beat Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova, who is ranked 12th, 6-3, 6-1.
On the men’s side, Serbian champion Novak Djokovic, ranked seventh, also secured his place in the top eight. He dispatched Germany’s Jan Lennard Struff, ranked 134th, in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3.