One of the most exciting matchups of the 2025 US Open is set for Labor Day, as Coco Gauff and Naomi Osaka—both former champions—face off in the fourth round on Monday afternoon at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
This won’t be their first meeting in New York. They first played here back in 2019 when Gauff was just 15. Osaka, the defending champion at the time, won that match and then comforted a tearful Gauff in a memorable moment. Now, Gauff leads their head-to-head 3–2, with their last match ending early after Osaka retired with an injury.
Playing Styles: Offense vs. Defense
Experts say this match is all about Gauff’s defense versus Osaka’s power. Former pro Chanda Rubin said Gauff will try to extend rallies and force Osaka into errors, while Osaka will try to keep points short and use her strong forehand to control the game.
“Osaka wants to attack, Gauff wants to grind,” Rubin explained. “It’s going to be a tug-of-war.”
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Gauff’s Serve Under the Spotlight
Gauff has struggled with her serve lately, especially double faults. After her win at the French Open, she brought in serve specialist Gavin MacMillan, the same expert who helped fix Aryna Sabalenka’s serve and turn her into a Grand Slam champion. The goal is to give Gauff a more reliable weapon under pressure.
Rubin said Gauff will need to land plenty of strong first serves to keep Osaka from stepping in and attacking. But Osaka’s return game will make that difficult.
Osaka’s Strategy
Expect Osaka to target Gauff’s forehand, a shot that’s sometimes seen as her weakness. But Rubin warned that going too wide can backfire.
“If Osaka hits it too far to the forehand corner, Gauff can create some dangerous angles,” Rubin said.
Former champion Lindsay Davenport added that Gauff’s serve looked solid against Magdalena Freçh, but Osaka is a whole different challenge.
“She’s a big hitter who takes the ball early,” Davenport said. “We’ll see how Gauff handles the pressure, especially on her second serve.” Jim Courier added that Osaka should attack both first and second serves, not just sit back.
Big Stage, Big Match
Gauff has had some shaky moments in the early rounds but seemed to settle down in her last match. Courier suggested that playing someone like Osaka might actually help take the pressure off.
“If she loses to Osaka, it’s easier to accept than if she had lost earlier,” Courier said. “That might help her play more freely.”
Gauff vs. Osaka is the second match scheduled on Arthur Ashe Stadium after 11:30 AM ET, and it’s shaping up to be one of the must-watch moments of the tournament.
