Naomi Osaka Faces Retirement Question After Stunning Coco Gauff at US Open

Naomi Osaka played her sixth match against Coco Gauff in the round of 16 of the 2025 US Open. Last time when the duo battled each other at the 2024 China Open, Osaka was forced to retire because of an injury. But this time, she claimed the win by beating Gauff with a score of 6-3, 6-2, and set the record straight once again. But more importantly, this victory means back-to-back quarterfinal appearances for Osaka—a rare feat considering how difficult things have been since she returned from her hiatus. In fact, the dearth of deep runs even had her contemplating retirement. But how close was she to actually hanging up her racket? 

At the post-match press conference, a reporter pointed out that the Japanese star once said that she liked to play at a certain level. But did she ever wonder if she’d give up while fighting Coco Gauff at the US Open? Osaka claimed, “Honestly, not close at all. I don’t know if that means I like pain or something. But no…”, 

For the 27-year-old, retiring from the sport that she loves so much is a tremendous move. She revealed, “It’s one thing to say, but I think to actually do it, to like hang up my racket, for me, permanently, would be a very scary thing.” Tennis has been a part of her life ever since she was three years old. Her Haitian father, Leonard Francois, made sure that Osaka trained in tennis from a young age. And leaving something like that is a feat that requires humongous strength and sacrifice. 

Osaka continued, “I tell people it’s like breathing air to me. Like, I wouldn’t know what to do. But granted, I’m really grateful to be here now, and the thought of not playing anytime soon is something that hasn’t crossed my mind.” 

FLUSHING NY- AUGUST 26: Naomi Osaka Vs Greet Minnen on Louis Armstrong Stadium at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 26, 2025 in Flushing Queens. Copyright: xmpi04x

 

This is a developing story… Meanwhile, don’t miss a beat from the ongoing 2025 US Open by visiting the EssentiallySports Live Blog!

The post Naomi Osaka Faces Retirement Question After Stunning Coco Gauff at US Open appeared first on EssentiallySports.