On Day 9 at Flushing Meadows, No 23 seed Naomi Osaka rolled past No 3 seed Coco Gauff 6-3, 6-2 to reach her first US Open quarter-final since 2020, while Felix Auger-Aliassime overpowered Andrey Rublev in straight sets. Iga Swiatek, Alex de Minaur, Lorenzo Musetti and Karolina Muchova also advanced as the last-eight picture sharpened in New York.
Key Takeaways
- Naomi Osaka def. Coco Gauff 6-3, 6-2; Osaka did not face a break point and controlled play behind a dominant first serve.
- Felix Auger-Aliassime def. Andrey Rublev 7-5, 6-3, 6-4; the Canadian flipped a 1–7 head-to-head trend coming in.
- Iga Swiatek def. Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-3, 6-1; Alexandrova struggled on second serve (27% points won).
- Alex de Minaur def. Leandro Riedi 6-3, 6-2, 6-1; the qualifier Riedi, ranked No 435, saw his run end in the last 16.
- Lorenzo Musetti def. Jaume Munar 6-3, 6-0, 6-1; the No 10 seed reached his first US Open quarter-final.
- Karolina Muchova def. Marta Kostyuk 6-3, 6-7 (0), 6-3; Muchova set a quarter-final meeting with Osaka.
- Night session on Ashe to feature Jannik Sinner vs Alexander Bublik, then Amanda Anisimova vs Beatriz Haddad Maia.
Verified Facts
Osaka’s return to Arthur Ashe Stadium delivered her most convincing performance of the fortnight. She surged to an early lead, repeatedly winning the cross-court backhand exchanges and sealing routine holds. Gauff never generated a break point and leaked unforced errors when pressing to find the corners. The result sends Osaka to her first US Open quarter-final since her title run in 2020.
Auger-Aliassime produced first-strike tennis to dismiss No 15 seed Rublev 7-5, 6-3, 6-4. He erased early pressure with timely serving, broke late in the opening set, and never looked back. Rublev’s frustration boiled over during the second set, and the Canadian closed in 3 sets for his first major quarter-final since the 2022 Australian Open.
On Louis Armstrong, No 2 seed Swiatek beat No 13 seed Alexandrova 6-3, 6-1, exploiting the Russian’s second serve; Alexandrova won just 27% of her second-serve points and double-faulted at key moments. Swiatek’s depth on the backhand return repeatedly flipped rallies in her favor.
No 8 seed de Minaur handled qualifier Leandro Riedi 6-3, 6-2, 6-1 in 90 minutes, neutralizing the Swiss player’s first ball and running off long streaks of points. Earlier, No 10 seed Musetti swept Jaume Munar 6-3, 6-0, 6-1 with clinical baseline patterns. In the day’s final result, No 11 seed Muchova outlasted No 27 seed Kostyuk in three sets, recovering from a second-set tie-break shutout to finish strong.
Round of 16 results at a glance
| Match | Score |
|---|---|
| Naomi Osaka (23) vs Coco Gauff (3) | 6-3, 6-2 |
| Felix Auger-Aliassime (25) vs Andrey Rublev (15) | 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 |
| Iga Swiatek (2) vs Ekaterina Alexandrova (13) | 6-3, 6-1 |
| Alex de Minaur (8) vs Leandro Riedi | 6-3, 6-2, 6-1 |
| Lorenzo Musetti (10) vs Jaume Munar | 6-3, 6-0, 6-1 |
| Karolina Muchova (11) vs Marta Kostyuk (27) | 6-3, 6-7 (0), 6-3 |
Context & Impact
Osaka’s win sets up a high-quality quarter-final against Muchova, a 2023 Roland Garros finalist who varies pace and loves the forecourt. The matchup contrasts Osaka’s flat pace and first-strike power with Muchova’s variety and all-court patterns.
Auger-Aliassime’s performance is a statement in the bottom half of the men’s draw. He arrived 1–7 against Rublev but controlled the rallies with depth on the forehand and confident net approaches. The Canadian awaits the quarter-final schedule and opponent from his section.
Musetti enters the last eight at the US Open for the first time, with the potential to meet fellow Italian Jannik Sinner if Sinner advances past Alexander Bublik. Swiatek returns to the business end in New York, where her compact points and defensive coverage have sharpened through the first week.
Official Statements
“I had so much fun out here… I look up to her a lot, and have all the respect in the world for her.”
Naomi Osaka, on-court interview
Unconfirmed
- Exact quarter-final schedule and start times were not released at the close of play.
- Jannik Sinner vs Alexander Bublik, and Amanda Anisimova vs Beatriz Haddad Maia, were slated for the evening session on Arthur Ashe; timings may change.
Bottom Line
Osaka’s most authoritative display of the tournament arrived against elite opposition and immediately reshaped the women’s quarter-final picture. With Auger-Aliassime peaking, Swiatek cruising, and Musetti breaking through, Day 9 tightened the field and set up a compelling sprint to the semifinals.