Labour Day Monday at the US Open belonged to the underdogs, as Naomi Osaka and Felix Auger-Aliassime lit up Arthur Ashe Stadium with commanding victories that reignited their Grand Slam journeys. Both players, once considered rising stars, rediscovered their best form to return to the quarter-finals after years of setbacks.
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Naomi Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, played with the power and composure that once made her the most feared name in women’s tennis. Facing third seed Coco Gauff, the Japanese star dismantled her opponent 6-3, 6-2 in just 64 minutes, making her first quarter-final at Flushing Meadows in five years. The victory was as much about joy as it was about dominance.
“I’m a little sensitive and I don’t want to cry. I had so much fun out here,” Osaka said, beaming throughout her post-match interview. “A big thank you to my team. We’ve been through a lot, it hasn’t been easy, but they have been by my side.”
For Gauff, who entered the match as a favourite, it was a frustrating evening. Despite serving better than she had in earlier rounds, the American teenager faltered with costly errors from the baseline. She graciously acknowledged the scale of Osaka’s performance: “Today she was definitely on paper the underdog,” Gauff said, reflecting on her defeat.
Earlier in the day, Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime produced a statement win of his own. The 25th seed delivered a composed 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 victory over Russia’s 15th seed Andrey Rublev, booking his place in a Grand Slam quarter-final for the first time since the 2022 Australian Open.
“Today is my first time playing on Arthur Ashe in a few years. It feels even better than the first time,” Auger-Aliassime said with a wide smile. “In 2021 I was on my way back but had setbacks and injuries, struggles with confidence. To come back here for the second time, it feels better and more deserved.”
Both Osaka and Auger-Aliassime pointed to mental resilience as the key to their resurgence. Osaka highlighted her focus on gratitude and enjoyment against top rivals, while Auger-Aliassime emphasised the importance of staying calm during big moments. Their breakthroughs now set up intriguing quarter-final clashes: Osaka will face 11th seed Karolina Muchova, who overcame Marta Kostyuk in a hard-fought three-set battle, while Auger-Aliassime prepares to meet Australia’s Alex de Minaur, who eased past Leandro Riedi in straight sets.
Meanwhile, world number one Jannik Sinner showcased his ruthlessness with a dazzling 6-1, 6-1, 6-1 demolition of 23rd seed Alexander Bublik. The defending champion barely gave his opponent a chance, neutralising Bublik’s tricky game after the Kazakhstani endured a grueling five-setter in the previous round. Sinner now faces fellow Italian Lorenzo Musetti, who advanced with a dominant 6-3, 6-0, 6-1 win over Jaume Munar.
“It’s great to see. Italian tennis is in great form,” Sinner said. “We have so many players and different game styles. Lorenzo is one of the biggest talents we have in our sport. I’m looking forward to this one. From an Italian point of view, it’s great to have for sure one Italian player in the semis.”
Elsewhere, Iga Swiatek continued her remarkable season by storming past 13th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-3, 6-1, becoming the youngest woman since Maria Sharapova in 2005 to reach the quarter-finals of all four majors in a single season. The Polish star will next face eighth seed Amanda Anisimova, who dispatched Beatriz Haddad Maia 6-0, 6-3.
In doubles, 45-year-old Venus Williams reminded the world of her enduring competitive spirit. Teaming up with Leylah Fernandez, the duo reached the quarter-finals with a straight-sets win over Zhang Shuai and Ekaterina Alexandrova, earning a rapturous reception from the New York crowd.
From Osaka’s emotional resurgence to Auger-Aliassime’s long-awaited revival, and from Sinner’s dominance to Swiatek’s historic run, the US Open continues to deliver moments of inspiration and drama. If Labour Day was the stage for underdogs, the rest of the tournament promises even more fireworks as the race to the finals heats up.
