Gauff on Open loss: ‘Not going to let this crush me’

Coco Gauff demonstrated resilience after a straight-sets defeat to Naomi Osaka in the US Open fourth round, vowing that the loss would not demoralize her and emphasizing her focus on future improvements. The match, held on September 1, 2025, at Arthur Ashe Stadium, ended 6-3, 6-2 in favor of Osaka, highlighting Gauff’s struggles with unforced errors and an inability to break serve. Gauff, the No. 3 seed and 2023 champion, committed 33 unforced errors, with 20 from her forehand, while Osaka made only 12. Her serving showed some improvement with three aces and five double faults, but her returning game was notably weak, failing to earn any break points. This marks the second consecutive year Gauff has exited in the fourth round at Flushing Meadows, following last year’s loss to Emma Navarro that prompted a coaching change. Recently, she enlisted biomechanics expert Gavin MacMillan to overhaul her serve, leading to emotional moments during the tournament, including tears in an earlier match, as she adapts to new techniques. In her post-match comments, Gauff admitted to feeling “discombobulated” but remained optimistic, stating, “I am not going to let this crush me,” and outlining her goal to avoid repeating past mistakes. Her 2025 Grand Slam season has been inconsistent: she reached the quarterfinals at the Australian Open, won the French Open, but suffered a first-round exit at Wimbledon. Osaka, ranked No. 23, praised Gauff after the match, expressing enjoyment in facing top competitors and viewing it as a challenge. At 21 years old, Gauff recognizes the pressure she places on herself but is encouraged by the success of older players on tour, envisioning significant growth over the next few years. The defeat underscores the competitive nature of women’s tennis and Gauff’s ongoing evolution, with new coaching insights and a positive mindset positioning her for a strong comeback in future tournaments.