Naomi Osaka taught us all a lesson. No matter how much time a player takes away from tennis or how much time it takes to get back to a high level, power still overwhelms opponents. Osaka isn't Serena Williams (no one is), but she isn't far off either.
Osaka is, in many ways, far more human than Serena ever was. That is meant as no disrespect to the American great. Her focus and need to overcome was greater than any other player could imagine. She was driven because the sport needed her to. Osaka's drive is renewed, and still catching up.
The Japanese player won four Grand Slams and appeared to be the next great dominant player, so seemingly easy that she didn't physically struggle. It was the mental aspect where she needed help, just as most of us do.
Naomi Osaka defeats Coco Gauff at the 2025 US Open
In her fourth-round match at the US Open against Coco Gauff, many expected Osaka to challenge and test the American, but the good money was likely still on Gauff. The issue was that Osaka didn't agree to this scenario. At her peak, she is among the best in tennis. Maybe the best on hard courts.
Gauff had lost to Osaka at the US Open, but that was years ago. Before the Japanese player took more than a year away from tennis to reset mentally and have a child. Gauff had since won the US Open and reached as high as No. 2 on the WTA tour.
But Naomi Osaka made clear that she is back against the American. While Coco Gauff has at times struggled with consistency in her serve, Osaka refused to let Gauff back in the match. The WTA No. 3 had five double faults, while Osaka had none. Clean tennis between equal players often decides outcomes.
Osaka decided that outcome early. In the first set, Coco Gauff had five winners and 16 unforced errors. Osaka was six and five. In the second set, Gauff stayed sadly consistent, giving away too many points, while Osaka didn't.
In the end, Naomi Osaka took the match by outpacing Coco Gauff and playing tighter tennis 6-3 6-2. She will next face Marta Kostyuk or Karolína Muchová. No matter who wins that match, if Osaka plays as she did versus Gauff, she will win.