A treble of aces wasn’t enough to overcome the onslaught of shots on court, as Coco Gauff bowed out of the 2025 US Open on Monday (1 September), lasting only one hour and five minutes against Japan’s resurgent Naomi Osaka.
The scene was one of shock at Arthur Ashe Stadium, as the top seeded American tennis player conceded defeat in straight sets – 3-6, 2-6 – ending her hopes of winning a second women’s singles title at Flushing Meadows.
Unforced errors, combined with service troubles, ultimately brought Gauff’s championship hunt – which inspired the likes of seven-time Olympic artistic gymnastics champion Simone Biles – to an early, yet dignified end.
“It’s disappointing,” Gauff said of the match, during a press-conference following play at Arthur Ashe Stadium. “For sure it was not the level that I wanted to bring, but it is a step in the right direction, I feel.”
Still, the loss weighed heavily on the 21-year-old, who theorised that she put too much pressure on herself coming into the final Grand Slam of the year.
“I’m trying to be positive in front of you guys,” she told the gathered reporters. “I promise you that I don’t feel that way right now, but I am not going to let this crush me.”
“I look forward to the future and making more improvements. Hopefully next year I can grow a lot as a player and as a person.”
For her part, Osaka – herself a four-time Grand Slam singles champion – impressed onlookers with the sheer dominance of her play.
“I was super locked in,” Osaka stated after the match. “I just had so much fun out here.”
Dashing out to a two game lead early in the first set, Osaka refused to relinquish control of the match, playing with a style and poise familiar to fans at Arthur Ashe Stadium – one, reminiscent of her 2020 US Open title run.
“I just really wanted an opportunity to come out here and play,” she added during her post-match interview. “This is my favourite court in the world, and it means so much to me to be back here.”
Returning to the quarterfinals for the first time since 2020, the No. 23 seed will look to play with the same passion and precision she brought to the court on Monday, as she faces Czechia’s Karolína Muchová with a spot in the semifinals on the line.
AloJapan.com