US Open 2026 Day 9 Preview: Gauff Faces Jovic, Osaka Battles Rybakina and Zverev Seeks Revenge
The second week of the 2026 US Open begins with a blockbuster Labour Day lineup at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
Monday’s fourth-round schedule features an all-American showdown between Coco Gauff and teenage sensation Iva Jovic, a heavyweight encounter between Naomi Osaka and Elena Rybakina, and a revenge match for top seed Alexander Zverev against Luciano Darderi.
With quarterfinal places at stake, Day 9 promises to test championship experience, physical endurance and the ability to handle the pressure of New York’s biggest stages.
Coco Gauff vs. Iva Jovic: An All-American Clash Between Generations
Coco Gauff enters the fourth round carrying the expectations of a home crowd and looking increasingly comfortable under the lights in New York.
The 2023 US Open champion defeated Cristina Bucsa 6-3, 6-4 in the third round, extending a winning streak that began with her title run at the Cincinnati Open. Gauff has also reached the second week of the US Open for the fifth consecutive year, further underlining her consistency at her home Grand Slam.
Her next opponent, however, is one of the fastest-rising players in American tennis.
Eighteen-year-old Iva Jovic booked her place in the round of 16 with a dramatic 7-5, 3-6, 7-5 victory over Alexandra Eala. The three-hour encounter required Jovic to withstand several shifts in momentum before closing out one of the most important wins of her young career.
Now she faces an even greater challenge against Gauff.
Jovic is an intelligent ball-striker who takes the ball early and changes direction confidently from the baseline. She will need to remain aggressive without allowing Gauff’s elite court coverage to draw her into a series of low-percentage attacks.
Gauff’s speed and defensive ability give her an immediate advantage in extended rallies. Her improved serving has also helped her play with greater authority during this North American hard-court swing. If Gauff protects her second serve and consistently finds Jovic’s backhand corner, she should be able to control the geometry of the match.
The pressure will be distributed unevenly. Gauff is the former champion expected to advance, while Jovic can compete with considerably more freedom. That dynamic could make the opening set especially important.
Key to the Match
Gauff must establish control with her serve and forehand before Jovic settles into the occasion. Jovic’s best opportunity will come from stepping inside the baseline, redirecting pace and preventing Gauff from turning defence into attack.
Prediction
Gauff’s movement, experience and current confidence should eventually separate her from her younger opponent, but Jovic has the composure to make this competitive.
Prediction: Gauff in two close sets.
Naomi Osaka vs. Elena Rybakina: First-Strike Tennis Takes Centre Stage
Few matches on the women’s schedule offer more pure power than Naomi Osaka against Elena Rybakina.
Both players possess championship-level serves and can take control of a rally with one clean strike. The result may be determined by the smallest margins: first-serve percentage, return depth and execution on the handful of break-point opportunities likely to appear.
Osaka reached the fourth round by surviving a tense 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 battle against Elise Mertens. The four-time Grand Slam champion missed three match points before finally completing the victory after two hours and 38 minutes.
It was not Osaka’s cleanest performance, but it demonstrated the competitive resilience that has defined many of her greatest US Open moments. The two-time New York champion remains one of the most dangerous hard-court players in the draw when she can combine her first serve with early, aggressive baseline positioning.
Rybakina advanced with a 7-6(6), 6-3 victory over Yuliia Starodubtseva. The reigning Australian Open champion had to navigate a tight opening set before taking greater control of the match.
This will also be a rematch of their recent National Bank Open quarterfinal in Toronto, where Rybakina recovered from a set down to defeat Osaka 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-4. That match lasted two hours and 33 minutes and offered a clear indication of how little separates them on a hard court.
Osaka will look to take time away from Rybakina by attacking second serves and driving her backhand down the line. Rybakina, meanwhile, will attempt to dictate with her serve and use her flatter groundstrokes to prevent Osaka from establishing a comfortable hitting rhythm.
The physical factor could become significant. Osaka was forced through a demanding three-set match in the previous round, while Rybakina progressed in straight sets. If the contest stretches deep into a deciding set, Rybakina’s more efficient path to the fourth round may give her an important advantage.
Key to the Match
Second-serve performance will be critical. Both players are devastating when they receive a short return, so protecting the second delivery and avoiding clusters of double faults could decide the outcome.
Prediction
Osaka’s history at the US Open makes her difficult to dismiss, especially if she finds her first serve early. Rybakina’s recent victory in their Toronto thriller and her ability to produce effortless power give her the narrowest of edges.
Prediction: Rybakina in three sets.
Alexander Zverev vs. Luciano Darderi: A Dangerous Rematch for the Top Seed
Alexander Zverev’s fourth-round meeting with Luciano Darderi carries far more intrigue than the rankings alone might suggest.
Zverev advanced by defeating Alejandro Tabilo in straight sets, producing a much more controlled performance after requiring five sets to overcome Quentin Halys in the second round. The top seed has already spent considerable time on court, but his latest victory offered encouraging signs regarding his movement, serving rhythm and physical condition.
Darderi reached the second week by defeating Dane Sweeny and is competing in the first US Open fourth round of his career. Although the Italian is best known for his results on clay, his forehand, athleticism and heavy topspin can also trouble opponents on outdoor hard courts.
Most importantly, Darderi knows he can defeat Zverev.
Earlier this season in Rome, Darderi saved four match points before upsetting the German in a memorable three-set encounter. It was Darderi’s first victory over a Top 10 opponent and one of the defining results of his season.
That defeat should ensure Zverev approaches Monday’s match with complete focus.
The German will want to use his first serve to shorten points and target Darderi’s backhand before the Italian can dictate with his forehand. Zverev must also resist becoming too passive from behind the baseline. Allowing Darderi time to run around his backhand and load up on inside-out forehands would make this match considerably more complicated.
Darderi’s challenge will be reproducing his clay-court success against Zverev on a faster surface. He must return aggressively enough to prevent the top seed from cruising through service games while maintaining the depth needed to keep Zverev from stepping inside the court.
Key to the Match
Zverev’s baseline position will reveal his intentions. If he plays closer to the baseline and drives through his backhand, he can rush Darderi and limit the Italian’s forehand opportunities. If he retreats and becomes defensive, Darderi could turn this into another physical battle.
Prediction
Darderi has already demonstrated that he can unsettle Zverev, but defeating the German over five sets on a New York hard court is a much more demanding assignment.
Prediction: Zverev in four sets.
What to Watch on Day 9 at the 2026 US Open
The central theme of Monday’s schedule is pressure.
Gauff must manage the expectations surrounding an American title contender against a fearless younger compatriot. Osaka and Rybakina will contest a match with the quality and star power of a Grand Slam semifinal. Zverev must overcome an opponent responsible for one of his most frustrating defeats of the season.
By the end of Day 9, three more contenders will have earned places in the US Open quarterfinals—and the championship picture in New York should be considerably clearer.
US Open 2026 Day 9 Featured Matches
- Coco Gauff vs. Iva Jovic
- Naomi Osaka vs. Elena Rybakina
- Alexander Zverev vs. Luciano Darderi
- Date: Monday, September 7, 2026
- Round: Fourth Round
- Venue: USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Flushing Meadows, New York
