Naomi Osaka Survives Tense Three-Set Battle to Reach US Open Last 16

Summary

Naomi Osaka defeated Elise Mertens 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 at the US Open. The 2-hour, 38-minute victory sends Osaka into the fourth round for the second straight year. She controlled the opening set but lost focus after one backhand error in the second. Osaka admitted that she became emotionally negative and struggled to stay engaged. Mertens then moved ahead 4-2 in the deciding set, putting Osaka under major pressure. The Japanese star stayed in the contest as Mertens began making more errors. Osaka eventually completed a hard-fought comeback and moved into the last 16. Read the full report for more on her resilience, mindset and US Open ambitions.

Osaka advances after a 2-hour, 38-minute struggle

Naomi Osaka battled through a tense and highly emotional match at the US Open in New York, defeating Belgium’s Elise Mertens 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 to reach the fourth round for the second consecutive year. The victory placed the four-time Grand Slam champion into the tournament’s last 16 after two hours and 38 minutes of fluctuating momentum.

Osaka, ranked 13th in the world and competing without a club affiliation, entered the match as the higher-ranked player against 23rd seed Mertens, who was ranked 20th. The Japanese star also held a strong head-to-head advantage, having won six of their previous nine meetings. She had won both of their encounters during the current season, adding confidence to her position before the match.

One mistake triggers a sudden loss of focus

Osaka appeared to be in control early, taking the opening set 6-3 and moving ahead 2-1 in the second. However, a single error on a backhand down the line caused her concentration to unravel. Rather than treating the mistake as an isolated point, Osaka became visibly frustrated and struggled to regain her rhythm.

“I became completely negative emotionally. I’m sorry,” Osaka said, acknowledging how quickly her mindset had changed. Her reaction reflected the perfectionist standards she has often discussed throughout her career. For Osaka, the problem was not simply losing one point; it was the emotional weight she placed on making an error at an important moment.

Her movement slowed, her intensity dropped and Mertens was able to take advantage. Osaka surrendered the second set 6-3, and the situation became even more difficult when she fell behind 2-4 in the deciding set. A match that had begun with Osaka in control suddenly appeared to be slipping away.

Opponent’s errors open the door

Mertens, however, was unable to maintain her advantage. The Belgian player struggled to produce the decisive shots needed to finish points, and her own unforced errors began to increase. Osaka benefited from that change in momentum, staying close enough to apply pressure before finding a way to recover in the final set.

The match was not a straightforward display of Osaka’s best tennis, but it was an important test of resilience. Rather than dominating from start to finish, she survived a period of serious mental and tactical difficulty and ultimately secured the victory. Her ability to remain in contention while her opponent faltered proved decisive in the closing stages.

What the result means for Osaka

Reaching the fourth round again is a positive sign for Osaka at one of tennis’s most demanding tournaments. The US Open has particular significance in her career: she won her first major title at the event and later captured the championship again, establishing herself as one of Japan’s most influential athletes on the global stage.

For international fans, Osaka’s progress also represents the continuing global impact of Japanese tennis. Her success has helped broaden interest in the sport in Japan and made her a major figure far beyond the court. The victory over Mertens was not perfect, but it demonstrated the value of persistence under pressure. Osaka will now look to sharpen her focus and reduce the emotional swings as she moves deeper into the tournament.