Osaka impressive in ousting Gauff

Naomi Osaka smiled before her U.S. Open showdown against Coco Gauff began Monday and after it ended. Between points, Osaka patted her left thigh and quietly told herself, almost in a whisper: "Come on.

- By HowarD FENDRICH

Come on." Once the ball was in play, Osaka's strokes were loud and on-target, producing the sort of confident, consistent and power-swinging tennis that carried her to four Grand Slam titles and the No. 1 ranking.

In the biggest statement yet that she is back at the height of her game, and again a serious contender for the sport's highest honors, Osaka eliminated Gauff 6-3, 6-2 in Arthur Ashe Stadium to reach her first major quarterfinal in more than 4½ years.

Osaka hasn't been to a Slam quarterfinal since the 2021 Australian Open.

"This is kind of unchartered territory at this point of my career," said Osaka, a 27-year-old who was born in Japan and moved to the U.S. with her family at age 3. "I'm just enjoying it. I'm having fun. I'm being able to play against the best players in the world."