Naomi Osaka of Japan advanced to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open on Monday with a 6-3, 6-2 win over American star Coco Gauff, but she might as well have just taken home the women's title, if an auspicious career stat is any indication.
Osaka, 27, has never lost a major when she has reached the quarterfinal, a fact that bodes extremely well for the remainder of her run. Her previous major QF appearances include the 2018 U.S. Open, the 2019 Australian Open, the 2020 U.S. Open and the 2021 Australian Open, all of which resulted in titles.
Monday's victory continues a comeback of sorts for Osaka, who has struggled to gain momentum since returning to the sport after giving birth. She gained some traction at the National Bank Open in August, but ultimately lost to 18-year-old sensation Victoria Mboko in the final, which resulted in some emotional moments both on the court and off.
All that to say—defeating Gauff is huge for Osaka, who can hopefully keep the run going when she takes on Czech pro Karolína Muchová on Tuesday.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Auspicious Naomi Osaka Stat Bodes Well for Remainder of Star's U.S. Open Run.
