Japan's Naomi Osaka celebrates at the US Open. Photo: ANGELA WEISS / AFP
Naomi Osaka has produced a commanding performance to knock out third seed Coco Gauff 6-3 6-2 in a highly anticipated fourth round showdown between two former US Open champions.
Four-time Grand Slam champion Osaka showed flashes of her old brilliance as she took control of the match from the start, while the 2023 champion Gauff struggled with her forehand and her serve.
The result carried Osaka of Japan into the Flushing Meadows quarter-finals for the first time in five years and she will next play either Czech 11th seed Karolina Muchova or 27th seed Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine.
Monday's (local time) showdown marked the first time that the two fan favourites met in New York since their memorable 2019 tussle when the then 15-year-old Gauff lost to the Osaka.
Women's second seed Iga Swiatek of Poland beat Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia 6-1, 6-1.
Meanwhile, third seeds Erin Routliffe of New Zealand and Canadian partner Gaby Dabrowski are through to the quarter-finals of the doubles.
They beat 13th seeds Cristina Bucsa of Spain and Nicole Mlichar-Martinez of the United States in straight sets.
They'll meet the 11th seeds, Timea Babos of Hungary and Luisa Stefani of Brazil, in the quarter-finals
Men's 14th seeds Michael Venus of New Zealand and Yuki Bhambri of India are through to the third round after a straight sets win over Mexican-Equador pairing.
Venus and Bhambri will meet fourth seeds Tim Puetz and Kevin Krawietz of Germany in the next round.
-RNZ/Reuters
