Naomi Osaka overpowered top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka 6-2, 7-6 (2) on Sunday to reach the Wimbledon quarterfinals for the first time in her career. Playing on Centre Court, Osaka executed a strategy of landing the first punch against one of the tour's hardest hitters, reversing a three-match losing streak against Sabalenka in 2026.
Osaka's Tactical Shift Pays Off
Sabalenka had defeated Osaka in all three previous meetings this year, including at the same stage of the French Open in June. On the clay in Paris, Osaka felt Sabalenka's power pushed her back. On the grass at the All England Club, Osaka turned the tables.
“On the clay courts I felt like she was pushing me back a lot. I just tried to do it to her first,” Osaka said after the match. The Japanese star's flat groundstrokes and pace overwhelmed Sabalenka, who struggled to find answers.
“Obviously we're big ball strikers. It's not like I'm going to start running around the court trying to draw an error from her. I can only focus on my strengths,” Osaka explained. “I just tried to serve really well, because it's grass. I also tried to get the upper hand in the rallies first.”
Power on a Warm Day
The match took place on the tournament's warmest day so far, with temperatures reaching 28 degrees Celsius (82 Fahrenheit). The heat made the ball fly faster, amplifying Osaka's power. She saved the only two break points she faced and put 87 percent of her first serves in play, compared to 69 percent for Sabalenka. Osaka also led 8-5 in aces and 21-15 in winners, completing the match in less than 1.5 hours.
“She overpowered me,” Sabalenka admitted. “I felt like it was incredible level from her.”
Emotional Win After Mental Health and Maternity Breaks
Osaka's victory marked her first win over a world No. 1 since beating Ash Barty in Beijing in 2019. A former No. 1 herself, Osaka took breaks from tennis in 2021 to manage her mental health and in 2023 for maternity leave. Her daughter turned three on Thursday.
After a loss to Iga Swiatek in the Italian Open round of 16 in May, Osaka said she “shut everyone out” and flew home alone. “It wasn't the most professional thing to do,” she reflected. “I felt really ashamed. So then after that I just told myself, 'Hey, I'm nearing 30, I really got to enjoy the time that I have.' Also, obviously tennis is very, very important to me, but I have a life outside of that. I have to treasure tennis in the way that I can, which is not putting too much importance on it.”
After the win, Osaka performed fist pumps, smiled briefly, then placed her racket over her head and spun in delight. “It's been a long time since I've had so much fun on the court,” she said. “And to do it here, it really means a lot.”
Sabalenka's Frustration
This is the second consecutive Grand Slam where Sabalenka failed to reach the latter stages. At the French Open, she suffered a meltdown against Diana Shnaider in the quarterfinals, after which she said she wanted to quit tennis. This time, Sabalenka said she wanted to “get completely drunk, forget about tennis, and try to get in better shape.”
“What could I do if the person is acing and hitting the lines, just going for her shots without any fear?” Sabalenka said. “She was just going for it. Level-wise, today, I wasn't world No. 1.”
Sabalenka and Osaka have each won four Grand Slam titles, all on hard courts at the Australian Open and US Open.
Rematch with Muchova Ahead
Osaka is coming off her first grass-court final, where she retired against Karolina Muchova in Bad Homburg, Germany, last weekend due to a foot injury. She will now face Muchova again in the quarterfinals. Muchova defeated 2024 Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova 7-5, 5-7, 6-3.
Krejcikova's loss ensures a new women's champion at Wimbledon for the ninth consecutive year. No woman has won multiple Wimbledon titles since Serena Williams won her seventh in 2016.
Kimono Walk-On and Other Matches
Before the match, Osaka walked onto Centre Court in a white kimono inspired by a character in a Quentin Tarantino movie. Unlike at the French Open, where the designer sewed outfits immediately after wins, the kimono was designed in Japan, so Osaka uses variations of the same outfit. For her past two matches, she employed a “free-robe vibe” inspired by the anime Bleach.
Earlier on Centre Court, Novak Djokovic beat 132nd-ranked qualifier Roman Safiullin 7-6 (6), 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 for his 106th match win at Wimbledon, surpassing Roger Federer's all-time men's record. Djokovic will next play third-seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime, who defeated Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-7 (4), 7-6 (6), 6-3, 6-7 (2), 6-1. No. 4 Jessica Pegula also advanced by beating fellow American Iva Jovic 4-6, 6-3, 6-1.
