This looks set to be an absolute blockbuster, with reigning French Open champ Coco Gauff going head-to-head with two-time US Open champion Naomi Osaka.
2025 WTA Tour
Grand Slam Tennis
US Open Tennis
USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre, New York City (Outdoor Hardcourts)
Selected 4th Round and Quarterfinal Matches- 1st-2nd September
Round of 16- 1st September
Coco Gauff (3) 0.64 vs Naomi Osaka (23) 1.22
Coco Gauff cruised into the final 16 after a convincing 6-3, 6-1 victory over Pole Magdelena Frech. Gauff has struggled on hard surfaces this season, failing to reach a single hardcourt semifinal all year. Her serve has faltered in crunch moments, and her forehand has been vulnerable. She made a big change ahead of this year’s US Open, hiring biomechanist Gavin McMillan to help iron out her serving kinks (McMillan has gained fame for helping World No.1 Sabalenka conquer her serving demons). Gauff certainly showed signs of improvement against Frech, serving just four double faults (she served 18 in the first two matches). She is playing within herself, taking a bit off the first serve while hitting with more topspin on the forehand wing. It will be interesting to see if that pays off against the bigger hitters.
Four-time Grand Slam hardcourt champ Naomi Osaka had a little more difficulty in her 3rd round tie, withstanding a stubborn Daria Kasatkina fightback to prevail 6-0, 4-6, 6-3. She looked immense from the back of the court, ending the match with 37 winners to a modest 28 unforced errors. Osaka has served well throughout this tournament and managed to collect nine aces against the Aussie. But she once again excelled on return, winning an impressive 24 of 33 2nd serve return points. That is mammoth when you consider that Gauff is throwing in plenty off-speed first and 2nd serves to avoid double faults. Osaka has looked like a different player since hiring new coach Tomasz Wiktorowski, winning twice in Montreal and three times in Cincy. She is moving like the Osaka that dominated hard-court tennis at the start of the decade. This will be Osaka’s first 4th round appearance at a slam since the 2021 Aussie Open- which she would go on to win. She will look to take advantage of any lingering serving vulnerabilities that the American may have.
The Verdict: Osaka to win in three at 4.2– Gauff leads the head-to-head 3-2, winning their most recent meeting in straight sets at last year’s China Open. However, Osaka has defeated the American on these surfaces, easing past a then-15-year-old Gauff at the 2019 US Open. I really think this is going to test Gauff to the limit. She has served within herself this fortnight and Osaka has the ammunition to expose her. Osaka has been moving exceptionally well and should be able to keep pace in the extended rallies. I think Osaka could nick this, but it’s going to be close.
Quarterfinal- 2nd September
Jessica Pegula (4) 0.57 vs Barbora Krejcikova 1.37
I knew that Jessica Pegula would come right in this event. She arrived in dire form, going 2-4 since the start of Wimbledon. But she has blossomed in this pressure-cooker atmosphere, advancing to her 8th Grand Slam quarterfinal with a resounding 6-1, 6-2 victory over compatriot Ann Li. She took full advantage of Li’s serving issues, breaking six times while forcing her compatriot into 19 unforced errors. Pegula has now won 15th consecutive US Open matches against players ranked outside the top 50. A runner-up here last season, Pegula has enjoyed success on all surfaces this year, winning titles in Austin, Bad Homburg and Charleston. She also enjoyed a stellar run to the Miami final, eventually going down to World No.1 Sabalenka in the championship match. The ruthlessly efficient baseliner has dropped just 17 games en route to this year’s quarterfinals (the least amount of games that she has ever conceded leading into a Grand Slam quarterfinal).
Czech Barbora Krejcikova just created some US Open history, saving a record eight match points in her dramatic 4th round victory over American fairytale story Taylor Townsend. The American blitzed the Czech 6-1 in the first set, dominating on serve and forcing the two-time Grand Slam champ into a flurry of winners. Townsend went up a break in the 2nd, but it would become a yo-yo affair, as the Czech was finally able to raise her level. Townsend failed to convert her first match point, and the match went into one off the most dramatic tiebreaks in Grand Slam history, as the American failed to convert a further seven match points. Krejcikova clinched the 2nd set, effectively taking all the air out of Townsend’s challenge. She counterpunched brilliantly in the decider, eventually overcoming Townsend 1-6, 7-6, 6-3. Krejcikova missed the first four months of the season due to a back issue but gathered some momentum on the eve of this event, picking up an encouraging 4th round run in Cincinnati. The Czech Grand Slam specialist is now into a 2nd career US Open quarterfinal (she lost to Sabalenka in the 2021 quarterfinals).
The Verdict: Pegula to win in straight sets at 1.26- Krejcikova leads the head-to-head 2-1, winning their most recent meeting in straight sets at last year’s WTA Finals. I just think that Pegula will have the edge in this arena. The Cech drifted in and out of form against Townsend and you can’t afford to do that against Pegula (especially on these surfaces). She is relentless, hitting with great depth and weight of shot.
