Tennis fans have seen their share of scheduling conflicts, but Tuesday’s US Open slate left many supporters frustrated. When Coco Gauff and Naomi Osaka both took the court at the same time, viewers faced an impossible choice.
Social media erupted with complaints, forcing fans to split their attention between two of the tournament’s most compelling players on what should have been separate showcase moments.
How Did Fans React to Coco Gauff and Naomi Osaka’s US Open Scheduling Conflict?
On Tuesday, August 26, two former US Open champions opened their campaigns on different show courts at Flushing Meadows. Osaka faced Belgium’s Greet Minnen at Louis Armstrong Stadium, while Gauff battled Australia’s Ajla Tomljanović on another court. Both players emerged victorious, advancing to the second round with straight-set wins.
However, the simultaneous scheduling left tennis fans scrambling to follow both matches. Many took to social media to voice their displeasure with the tournament’s decision to overlap these highly anticipated contests.
A frustrated fan captured the dilemma perfectly, sharing their predicament on X with a playful GIF: “Why would they schedule Coco Gauff and Naomi like that? Now I have to choose between one match or the other”
Why would they schedule Coco Gauff and Naomi like that? Now I have to choose between one match or the other pic.twitter.com/n9h0rUoVzo
— lia (@kingdeelia) August 26, 2025
Another supporter didn’t mince words about the tournament’s scheduling decision. “Scheduling Coco Gauff’s and Naomi Osaka’s matches at the same time is very nasty work @usopen,” they wrote on X.
Scheduling Coco Gauff’s and Naomi Osaka’s matches at the same time is very nasty work @usopen
— Sir Howard II (@YesMrHoward) August 26, 2025
The criticism extended beyond simple complaints, with fans offering alternative scheduling suggestions. “Could have put Naomi first on Armstrong and coco second on Ashe or something ,” one fan suggested.
Others took a more dramatic approach to their criticism. “coco and naomi at the same time… you are a demonic entity @usopen,” one supporter expressed.
ESPN also caught heat for the programming decision, with one fan writing: “Coco Gauff and Naomi Osaka playing at the same time is poor scheduling by ESPN #usopen25.”
The frustration reached humorous levels when one fan compared the scheduling to a serious wrongdoing. “Starting Coco and Naomi at the same time should be a criminal offense,” they commented.
Starting Coco and Naomi at the same time should be a criminal offense
— christan (no i), ß (@ChristanWNBA) August 26, 2025
Meanwhile, some fans described their viewing experience as they tried to catch both matches. “I’m changing the channel between Coco and Naomi why did they have to play at the exact same time #USOpen,” another supporter said.
When Could Gauff and Osaka Face Each Other at the 2025 US Open?
Despite the scheduling frustration, both players remain on track for potential deeper runs in the tournament. The draw presents an intriguing possibility for Gauff and Osaka to meet later in the competition, which would give fans the head-to-head matchup they’ve been anticipating.
Osaka’s path to a potential showdown begins with her second-round match against American Hailey Baptiste. If the Japanese star advances, she would face either Daria Kasatkina or Kamilla Rakhimova in the third round. Another victory would secure her spot in the fourth round.
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Third seed Gauff faces her own challenging route through the draw. Her second-round opponent will be Croatia’s Donna Vekić, a former top-20 player with dangerous shot-making ability. A victory there would set up a third-round meeting with either American Peyton Stearns or Poland’s Magdalena Fręch.
Should both players navigate their respective sections successfully, the fourth round presents the earliest opportunity for a Gauff-Osaka encounter. This potential matchup carries significant historical weight, as the two have developed a competitive rivalry, with Gauff holding a narrow 3-2 edge in their five previous meetings.
Their most recent clash came at last year’s China Open, where Osaka was forced to retire due to injury, handing the American the victory. Both players will be eager to settle their rivalry on the sport’s biggest stage if their paths cross again at Flushing Meadows.