Naomi Osaka stepped onto the court sporting a fresh, fashion‑forward ensemble and, after a gripping three‑set battle, secured a spot in the fourth round of the US Open with a win over Elise Mertens. Osaka’s blend of business‑like poise and aggressive tennis paid off, as she edged past the 23rd‑seeded Belgian 6‑3, 3‑6, 7‑5 on the iconic Louis Armstrong Stadium. For this appearance Osaka chose a look that married the formality of a boardroom with the comfort of a locker room.
She wore a grey checked blazer‑hoodie paired with wide‑leg trousers, turning the usual pre‑match attire into a sleek, tailored statement. The outfit, which could be described as "business‑chic," reflected her confidence both on and off the court.
"Honestly, I can’t believe I won this match," Osaka told the crowd, expressing gratitude for the energy they supplied. "There was a moment when I poured my heart into every point.
Thank you so much, but honestly, I’m shocked I won. I’m not going to lie." The 28‑year‑old, a two‑time champion at Flushing Meadows, began the first set in dominant fashion, rattling off three consecutive games to jump to a 4‑1 lead.
Her serve was particularly effective, allowing her to close the set 6‑3 after a series of powerful deliveries that kept Mertens on the defensive. The second set saw Osaka adopt a more aggressive baseline game, hitting heavy groundstrokes and breaking Mertens in the third game. However, she could not maintain the momentum and dropped the next two games, allowing the Belgian to level the match at one set apiece.
Mertens capitalized on a few unforced errors from Osaka and forced a decisive third set. In the final set, Osaka experienced a brief medical timeout, which seemed to shift the momentum in her favor.
After returning to the court, she broke Mertens late in the set and followed it with a massive ace that gave her a 6‑5 advantage. Osaka then unleashed a forehand winner to seal the set 7‑5, earning a quarter‑final clash with either second seed Elena Rybakina or Ukraine’s Yuliia Starodubtseva. After the match Osaka admitted she had not played her best tennis and apologized for her on‑court behavior, noting that she had thrown her racket to the floor in frustration. "I didn’t play amazingly and it was getting me down, sorry about my behaviour, for the little kids watching," she said.
"This is my favourite tournament. I wanted to play well in front of you. I’m just so glad I have the opportunity to play another match. I thought I was going to be okay, but clearly I was shaky." In a separate match on Arthur Ashe Stadium, home‑grown hope Iva Jovic faced her friend and fellow rising star Alexandra Eala of the Philippines.
The two had set aside their friendship for a three‑hour duel that ended with Jovic prevailing 7‑5, 3‑6, 7‑5, securing her place in the fourth round. Jovic and Eala had previously shared the court during New York’s Fan Week, where they teamed up with their fathers for a light‑hearted doubles exhibition.
This camaraderie added an emotional layer to their competitive encounter. Jovic took the opening set tightly, edging it 7‑5. Eala responded in the second, raising her level and taking the set 6‑3, which forced a decisive third set.
The final set was a roller‑coaster of momentum swings. Jovic fell behind 4‑2 but rallied, winning five of the next six games to clinch the match and extend her head‑to‑head record against Eala to 3‑0, with victories on three different surfaces.
"That felt like a marathon. I felt like I lost my sanity five times over to win that match. But it’s really worth it for this feeling," Jovic reflected after the win. "I’m usually not one that shows that many emotions, but this one meant a lot to me.
It’s everything to have another match at the US Open." Jovic’s triumph sets up an all‑American showdown with Coco Gauff, who advanced earlier in the day by defeating Spain’s Cristina Bucsa. The upcoming clash promises to be a highlight of the tournament’s later stages. The US Open continues to be broadcast live on Sky Sports starting August 30, with streaming available without a contract on the NOW platform and the Sky Sports app. Fans can also enjoy the Laver Cup at The O2 in London from September 25‑27, also shown on Sky Sports.