It was the match-up everyone was waiting to see. Four-time Major winner Naomi Osaka took on No. 3 seed Coco Gauff in the fourth round of the US Open. It was their sixth meeting, and their second since Osaka returned from a 16-month pregnancy break.
As they stepped onto Arthur Ashe Stadium - the biggest venue in tennis - on the afternoon of Labor Day, the tennis world waited to see which former champion would come out on top. But it was over in just an hour and four minutes, as Osaka stunned the 2023 champion 6-3 6-2.
Gauff has been struggling with her serve in recent weeks, and she gave away the first set on a double fault. The American never got a proper look at Osaka's service games, and she ended the match with a staggering 33 unforced errors.
The No. 3 seed made a swift exit off the court, but Osaka made sure to pay tribute to her young rival - someone she says she "looks up to."
Six years after she beat a 15-year-old Gauff in the third round here, Osaka said: "Yeah, I mean, it's definitely really special. Honestly, I look up to her a lot.
"I think the way that she conducts herself - I hope that's the right word, conduct! - I think it's really special and I feel like to be such an amazing role model at such a young age is a gift and it's a talent that she has and I have all the respect in the world for her."
While their 2019 match sticks out in most fans' minds, Osaka has another special memory with Gauff in Flushing Meadows. Two years ago, just weeks after she gave birth to her daughter, Shai, Osaka returned to the US Open to watch Gauff beat Karolina Muchova in the semi-finals.
Reflecting on her journey since then, the former world No. 1 added: "I mean I'm a little sensitive and I don't want to cry, but honestly, I just had so much fun out here.
"I was telling everyone, literally like, I was in the stands like two months after I gave birth to my daughter, watching Coco.
"And yeah, I just really wanted an opportunity to come out here and play. This is my favourite court in the world, and it means so much to me to be back here.
"And I just want to say a really big thank you to my team, we've kind of been through a lot and it hasn't always been easy, but they've been by my side. Thank you guys, love you!"
Osaka returned to competition in January 2024 but her comeback has gained real momentum in the last few weeks. She also reached the final of the WTA 1000 in Montreal, saving match points in the first round there, and she cited that contest as a turning point.
"I played a match in Montreal where I had to save two match points, ever since then, I started thinking anything is possible and you just have to try your best and have a smile on your face," she explained.
After watching Gauff beat Muchova here in 2023, Osaka could well face the Czech star in the quarter-finals. She takes on the winner of Muchovs vs Marta Kostyuk in her next match.
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