NEW YORK—The 2025 US Open will celebrate Labor Day with one its most anticipated matches of the tournament as former champions Coco Gauff (2023) and Naomi Osaka (2018, 2020) face off in the fourth round of women’s singles Monday afternoon.
Gauff and Osaka met for the first time on court at this very tournament in 2019, when a 15-year-old Gauff battled into the third round but fell to defending champion Osaka under the lights on Arthur Ashe Stadium. Gauff now leads their head-to-head 3-2, winning their most recent meeting last fall at the China Open when Osaka was forced to retire due to injury.
The rivals will meet during the day this time, conditions TC Analyst Lindsay Davenport believes will favor Gauff after the 2023 champion struggled during at night in her first two matches, with former Australian Open semifinalist Chanda Rubin arguing the match will come down to Gauff’s defense versus Osaka’s offense.
“At times, she’s been able to rely on her speed, on her wheels, and she will do a bit of that today against Osaka,” Rubin said on Monday’s episode of Tennis Channel Live. “I think that’s going to be a bit of the push and pull. Osaka will be looking to shorten up points; that’s been her MO this whole tournament so far. Gauff will be looking to extend rallies; can she get Osaka missing on the edges of the court? I think that’s going to be a big factor.”
