Overview:
Naomi Osaka defeated top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets to advance to the Wimbledon quarterfinals for the first time in her career. The victory marks Osaka’s first win over a world No. 1 player since 2019 and continues her resurgence after breaks from tennis for mental health and maternity.
LONDON (AP) — When power meets power, getting in the first blow can sometimes be the key.
In a matchup between two of the hardest hitters on tour, that was Naomi Osaka’s strategy against top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka in the most anticipated Wimbledon match so far this year.
Sabalenka had beaten Osaka in all three of their previous meetings this season, including at the same stage of the French Open last month.
“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.
The plan worked.
Osaka defeated Sabalenka 6-2, 7-6 (2) on Sunday to reach the Wimbledon quarterfinals for the first time.
Her pace and flat groundstrokes overwhelmed Sabalenka throughout the match.
“Obviously we’re big ball strikers,” Osaka said. “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.
“I just tried to serve really well, because it’s grass. I also tried to get the upper hand in the rallies first.”
The warmest day of the tournament amplified Osaka’s power. Temperatures reached 28 degrees Celsius (82 degrees Fahrenheit), allowing her shots to move even faster through the court.
“She overpowered me,” Sabalenka said. “I felt like it was incredible level from her.”
Sabalenka previously beat Osaka this year in Indian Wells, California, Madrid and Paris.
“That really sucked,” Osaka said. “So I wanted to turn it around.”
After match point, Osaka pumped her fists, smiled briefly and twirled with her racket held overhead as she celebrated her first victory on Centre Court.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve had so much fun on the court,” Osaka said. “And to do it here, it really means a lot.”
Mental health and motherhood
The victory was Osaka’s first over a world No. 1 player since defeating Ash Barty in Beijing in 2019. Since then, Osaka stepped away from tennis in 2021 to focus on her mental health and later took maternity leave, missing the entire 2023 season.
Her daughter turned 3 on Thursday.
After a lopsided loss to Iga Swiatek at the Italian Open in May, Osaka said she withdrew from her team and returned home.
“It wasn’t the most professional thing to do,” she said. “I felt really ashamed about what I did.
“So then after that I just told myself, ‘Hey, I’m nearing 30, I really got to enjoy the time that I have.’”
Sabalenka vows to move on
For Sabalenka, it was the second straight Grand Slam disappointment after her French Open quarterfinal loss to Diana Shnaider.
This time, Sabalenka said she wanted to “get completely drunk, forget about tennis, and try to get in better shape.”
Osaka and Sabalenka each own four Grand Slam singles titles, all won on hard courts at the Australian Open and U.S. Open.
Osaka entered Wimbledon after reaching her first grass-court final in Bad Homburg, Germany, where she retired because of a foot injury.
She will next face Karolina Muchova, who defeated 2024 Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova 7-5, 5-7, 6-3.
Kimono-inspired entrance
Before the match, Osaka wore the white kimono she has used for her Wimbledon walk-ons, inspired by a character from a Quentin Tarantino film.
Rather than creating a new outfit after every victory, Osaka said she has used variations of the same design, including recent looks inspired by the anime Bleach.
By the numbers
Osaka saved both break points she faced and landed 87% of her first serves, compared with 69% for Sabalenka.
She also finished with an 8-5 advantage in aces and a 21-15 edge in winners during the match, which lasted less than 90 minutes.
“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.”
Other Wimbledon results
Coco Gauff rallied past Belinda Bencic to reach the Wimbledon quarterfinals for the first time, winning 4-6, 3-6, 6-4 before the tournament’s 11 p.m. curfew.
Gauff will face fellow American Jessica Pegula, who defeated Iva Jovic 4-6, 6-3, 6-1.
Earlier, Novak Djokovic defeated qualifier Roman Safiullin 7-6 (6), 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 for his record 106th Wimbledon match victory. He next faces Felix Auger-Aliassime.
Top-ranked Jannik Sinner advanced with a 6-3, 7-6 (0), 6-3 victory over Japanese qualifier Shintaro Mochizuki and will meet Jan-Lennard Struff in the quarterfinals.
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