"She is definitely back," Bartoli praises Osaka after her win against Gauff at the US Open

Naomi Osaka has qualified for the quarterfinals of the US Open. The Japanese player eliminated Coco Gauff (6-3, 6-2), displaying an excellent level of play and neutralizing her opponent throughout the match.

This is the first time the former world number one has reached this stage of a Grand Slam tournament since her Australian Open victory in 2021. A finalist at the WTA 1000 in Montreal in recent weeks, the Japanese player seems to be back at a very high level, which delights Marion Bartoli.

"She is definitely back. She was actually my surprise pick for the title. And when you look at her performance against Coco Gauff, she was absolutely incredible from the start.

She dominated from the baseline, really controlling the entire game, while Coco (Gauff) didn't do much with her forehand. Of course, one could point out that Coco didn't play her best tennis, but I think it's more accurate to emphasize how great Naomi was.

For her, to come back and deliver such a performance on Arthur Ashe Court for the first time in this tournament, even though it's not her first time playing on that court, is absolutely exceptional.

The contrast in their emotions was very clear. Naomi Osaka was having fun, smiling, her intentions were very clear. On the other hand, Coco struggled in every aspect, even with her backhand.

She made over 30 unforced errors in a match that wasn't very long. She has been dealing with mental challenges throughout this tournament, and it became even more evident in this match.

At the end of the match, she just wanted to leave the court as quickly as possible. It was very difficult, even traumatic at times, with those tears on the court. She acknowledged that her opponent played very well, but she clearly needs time to decompress and reflect on what comes next," Bartoli stated for Tennis Up To Date.