The 2025 US Open has been a rollercoaster of emotions for Coco Gauff, the 21-year-old American tennis star who has captivated fans with her tenacity and raw talent. On September 1, in a highly anticipated fourth-round clash at Arthur Ashe Stadium, Gauff faced off against Naomi Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion and one of the sport’s most formidable competitors. The match, which ended in a swift 6-3, 6-2 victory for Osaka in just 64 minutes, left Gauff grappling with disappointment and tears as she reflected on a tournament marked by personal growth and emotional challenges.
Gauff, the No. 3 seed and a two-time Grand Slam winner, entered the match with high hopes after a confidence-boosting third-round win against Magdalena Frech. “Did I feel like I had a lot of confidence after my last match? Yeah, definitely,” she shared during her post-match press conference. “I think that was a big confidence booster. So today feels more disappointing, I think, than maybe it would have felt losing in the first or second round.” Despite her preparation, Gauff struggled to find her rhythm against Osaka, whose precise and powerful play targeted Gauff’s vulnerable forehand, resulting in 20 unforced errors on that side alone compared to just eight from her backhand. The match statistics painted a stark picture: Gauff committed 33 unforced errors overall, dwarfing her eight winners, while Osaka maintained a composed performance with 10 winners and only 12 unforced errors.
The defeat was particularly stinging for Gauff, who has been navigating a challenging period both on and off the court. Just days before the US Open began, she made a bold move to overhaul her coaching team, parting ways with Matt Daly and bringing in biomechanics expert Gavin MacMillan, who had previously transformed Aryna Sabalenka’s serve. This change aimed to address Gauff’s persistent serving issues, which had plagued her throughout the summer, including a first-round exit at Wimbledon. Against Osaka, her serve showed signs of progress—she hit three aces and noted it was her best serving performance of the tournament. “Today was disappointing because I felt it was the best I served all tournament,” she said. “A lot of aces. Yeah, there were some doubles, but I thought that was a good performance for me serving.” However, her groundstrokes faltered, and her usual strength in returning was absent, leaving her feeling “discombobulated on the court.”
The emotional weight of the tournament was evident long before the Osaka match. In the second round against Donna Vekic, Gauff endured a grueling battle, breaking down in tears mid-match as she grappled with nerves and pressure. She later revealed to reporters that she had experienced a panic attack during that encounter, a candid admission that underscored her humanity. “I just show people what it’s like to be a human, and I have bad days, but I think it’s more about how you get up after those bad moments and how you show up after that,” she said after defeating Vekic. That resilience carried her through to the fourth round, but the Osaka loss hit hard. “After the match, I was really disappointed. Kind of broke down to my team,” Gauff admitted, her voice heavy with emotion. Yet, she found perspective through conversations with her team, noting, “Then, hearing their perspectives and everything, it definitely is a lot of positive things.”
Gauff’s journey at the 2025 US Open was a microcosm of her broader career arc—marked by meteoric success, intense scrutiny, and a relentless drive to improve. As the 2023 US Open champion and a 2025 French Open winner, she carries the weight of expectations as America’s brightest tennis star. Her image adorns billboards across New York, and her off-court ventures, like her New Balance sneaker collaboration, reflect her growing influence. Yet, the pressure of performing at her home Grand Slam, combined with the technical overhaul of her serve, made this tournament particularly taxing. “I knew going in it was going to be a tough tournament for me,” she reflected, acknowledging the challenges of implementing changes under the spotlight.
Despite the loss, Gauff remains focused on growth. “I think if I kept the way I was going in Cincinnati to here, I would have been out in the first round,” she said, highlighting the progress in her serve. She’s already looking ahead to a training block before the WTA 1000 in Beijing, where she is the defending champion. “After the US Open, for me, it’s always improvement mode to get ready for Australia,” she declared, emphasizing her commitment to refining her game regardless of immediate results. This mindset, coupled with her ability to learn from adversity, sets her apart as a champion in the making.
Osaka, meanwhile, delivered a masterclass, marking her return to elite form after a 17-month maternity leave following the birth of her daughter, Shai. “I’m a little sensitive, and I don’t want to cry, but I had so much fun out here,” Osaka said post-match, her joy evident as she recalled watching Gauff from the stands just months after giving birth. Her victory propelled her to her first Grand Slam quarterfinal since 2021, where she would face Karolína Muchová. For Gauff, the defeat was a reminder of the work still ahead, but also a testament to her resilience. “I am not going to let this crush me,” she vowed, a promise that resonates with fans who admire her for both her talent and her heart.
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