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NEW YORK: Naomi Osaka blew past Coco Gauff to reach the quarter-finals of the US Open on Monday in a lopsided battle of former champions.
Japanese four-time Grand Slam champion Osaka dominated American third seed Gauff on her way to wrapping up a 6-3, 6-2 victory in one hour four minutes on the Arthur Ashe Stadium Court.
The eagerly anticipated showdown between 2018 and 2020 US Open champion Osaka and 2023 title-winner Gauff never quite lived up to the billing.
Gauff, who changed her coaching team on the eve of the tournament in an effort to improve her serving, once again struggled on serve.
She was broken four times by Osaka, who looked far more assured throughout as she coasted into her first Grand Slam quarter-final in four years.
“I’m a little sensitive and I don’t want to cry,” said Osaka, who also beat a 15-year-old Gauff at the US Open in their first meeting in 2019.
“I had so much fun out here. This is my favorite court in the world and it means so much to me to be back here.”
Osaka’s current US Open campaign is her best performance in a Grand Slam singles tournament since she returned to tennis last year following the birth of her daughter in 2023.
Osaka conceded just two points off her serve in the entire opening set, which she took with her second break of Gauff, who double-faulted on set point.
The second set was a similar story, with Osaka giving up only four points on serve while pressuring Gauff relentlessly.
Osaka edged clear after breaking Gauff to go 4-2 up and then broke the American again to complete victory.
Osaka will face either Czech 11th seed Karolina Muchova or Ukrainian 27th seed Marta Kostyuk in Wednesday’s quarter-finals.

JEDDAH: Al-Ahli have announced the signing of Brazilian midfielder Matheus Goncalves from Flamengo on a two year contract, with an option to extend for a third season.

The move comes as part of the Al-Ahli’s efforts to strengthen their squad ahead of upcoming domestic, continental and international competitions.

Al-Ahli paid €9 million ($10.5m) to secure the services of the attacking midfielder.

Goncalves will be registered among the list of foreign professional players born in 2004 and after, according to the club.

The Brazilian played 18 matches with Flamengo last season, during which he scored 5 goals and made 2 assists in 627 minutes of playing time.

Goncalves was a key player in Flamengo’s U-20 Intercontinental Cup triumphs in 2024 and 2025.