It’s déjà vu on the US Open and this time, it feels larger than ever. Naomi Osaka and Coco Gauff are set to fulfill in a fourth-round conflict Monday evening, in a matchup that can faucet into historical past and reveal how a lot these superstars have grown.
For those who’ve been following tennis even casually, you keep in mind their first iconic assembly again in 2019. Gauff was simply 15, nonetheless a bright-eyed prodigy, and Osaka, the defending champion, cruised previous her in straight units. However what followers keep in mind most wasn’t the rating, it was the sportsmanship. A tearful Gauff was invited by Osaka to share the post-match interview, creating probably the most emotional moments in tennis historical past.
Quick ahead six years, and the narrative has flipped. Gauff is now not simply the promise of tomorrow however a two-time Grand Slam champion and ranked No. 3 on the planet. She owns wins over Osaka on the Australian Open, in San Jose, and most not too long ago in Beijing final 12 months. Now at 21, she’s develop into the face of the brand new era, with the arrogance and {hardware} to again it up.
Osaka, in the meantime, is writing her personal comeback chapter. A four-time Grand Slam champion and one of many sport’s largest international names, she’s returning to the second week of a significant for the primary time since 2021. At 27, she’s not only a highly effective participant however a trailblazer who’s redefined conversations round psychological well being, motherhood, and what it means to step away and return on her personal phrases.
That’s what makes this showdown so particular. For Gauff, it’s an opportunity to show her dominance towards the very girl who as soon as (respectfully) humbled her on this identical stage. For Osaka, it’s a shot to remind the world that her recreation and her will to win are nonetheless elite.
Once they stroll into Arthur Ashe Stadium, it received’t simply be one other match. It’s the continuation of a narrative that began with tears and empathy, and has grown into probably the most compelling rivalries in girls’s tennis.
Grio fam, this might be a match you’ll need to watch stay at 1:10pm EST on ESPN, ESPN+, Hulu, fuboTV or Sling TV Orange. Whether or not it’s Osaka’s serve or Gauff’s all-court hustle that seals the evening, historical past is about to be made once more in Queens, as these two queens dominate the courtroom.
