Naomi Osaka dethrones World No 1 Sabalenka to reach Wimbledon quarter-finals

London: In a clash between two of the tour’s most formidable hitters, Naomi Osaka adopted an aggressive strategy to overcome world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka during their highly anticipated Wimbledon encounter on Sunday.

Having lost all three of their previous meetings this year, including a defeat at the French Open last month, Osaka was determined to change her approach.

“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 tactic proved decisive as Osaka outplayed Sabalenka 6-2, 7-6 (2) to secure her first-ever quarter-final appearance at the All England Club. Osaka’s pace and flat groundstrokes dictated the match, with her power bolstered by the warmest day of the tournament so far, as temperatures reached 28°C.

“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 said. "I just tried to serve really well, because it's grass. I also tried to get the upper hand in the rallies first.”

“She overpowered me,” Sabalenka acknowledged. “I felt like it was incredible level from her.”

For Osaka, the win provided a long-awaited reversal of fortune after previous losses in Paris, Madrid, and Indian Wells. “That really sucked,” she said. “So I wanted to turn it around.” Upon completing the victory—her first-ever win on Centre Court—the 28-year-old celebrated with delight, remarking: “It's been a long time since I've had so much fun on the court. And to do it here, it really means a lot.”

Mental Health and Maternity

This marks Osaka's first victory over a top-ranked player since 2019. The win comes following a period of significant personal growth, including breaks from the tour for mental health and maternity leave, which saw her miss the entire 2023 season. Osaka, whose daughter turned three on Thursday, reflected on her emotional journey, noting that she now balances her life outside of tennis with her professional ambitions.

Sabalenka’s Outlook

For Sabalenka, the loss marks her second consecutive Grand Slam where she has failed to progress deep into the tournament. Following her defeat, she candidly shared her frustration: “I just want to get completely drunk, forget about tennis, and try to get in better shape.”

Osaka will next face Karolina Muchova in the quarter-finals, following Muchova’s victory over 2024 Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova.

Aces and Statistics

Osaka was dominant on serve, saving both break points she faced and landing 87% of her first serves. She also outperformed Sabalenka in both aces (8–5) and winners (21–15) in a match that concluded in under 90 minutes.

“What could I do if the person is acing and hitting the lines, just going for her shots without any fear?" Sabalenka asked. “Level-wise, today, I wasn't world No. 1.”

Gauff Advances

In other results, Coco Gauff reached her first Wimbledon quarter-final by defeating Belinda Bencic 4-6, 3-6, 6-4, finishing just before the 11 p.m. curfew. Gauff is set to face fellow American Jessica Pegula, who advanced after a comeback victory over Iva Jovic.

With inputs from AP