Tennis Star Osaka Outplays Kasatkina, Advances to US Open Round of 16
Naomi Osaka Advances to US Open Quarterfinals
Naomi Osaka, the four-time Grand Slam champion, has reached the quarterfinals of the 2023 US Open, marking her best performance in a Grand Slam singles tournament since her return to tennis following the birth of her daughter in 2023.
Osaka's journey to the quarterfinals began with a match on the Louis Armstrong Stadium court against Daria Kasatkina. The match was a closely contested one, with Osaka winning in three sets with scores of 6-0, 4-6, 6-3.
The first set was a one-sided affair, with Osaka scoring seven points and committing seven double faults. However, Kasatkina showed great resolve to rally back in the second set, breaking Osaka's serve four times to win 6-4 and level the match.
In the third set, Osaka held her serve for the remainder of the match, breaking Kasatkina's serve in the fourth game to take a 3-1 lead. Osaka held on to win the third set 6-3, securing her place in the fourth round.
Speaking after the match, Osaka joked about needing crowd support for her upcoming match against American third seed Coco Gauff. "She's like my little sister," Osaka said of Gauff, who they will be playing against for the second time.
Osaka's win against Kasatkina was a significant milestone in her comeback, as she has not reached the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam tournament since her title run at the 2020 US Open. Since her comeback after the birth of her daughter in July 2023, Osaka has competed in the 2025 US Open, where she reached the semifinals. This is her first Grand Slam quarterfinal as a mother.
Kasatkina's suspect serve was a factor in the loss against Osaka, with the Russian player struggling to hold her serve consistently throughout the match. Despite the loss, Kasatkina can be proud of her performance, coming back from a one-sided first set to push Osaka to a third set.
As Osaka prepares to face Gauff in the fourth round, she will be looking to continue her strong form and advance to the semifinals of the US Open for the first time since her title win in 2020. With the support of the crowd and her "little sister" Gauff, it promises to be an exciting match.
