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Osaka stuns world number one Sabalenka to reach Wimbledon quarter-finals
🇯🇲 Jamaica /Sports

Osaka stuns world number one Sabalenka to reach Wimbledon quarter-finals

From Jamaica Observer · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency Context piece
  • Naomi Osaka defeated world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the Wimbledon last 16, advancing to the quarter-finals for the first time.
  • The Japanese star avenged a previous defeat to Sabalenka and showed strong form, having not dropped a set in the tournament so far.
  • Osaka will face Karolina Muchova in the quarter-finals, expressing her joy at winning on Centre Court for the first time.

Naomi Osaka stunned top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka on Centre Court, securing a 6-2, 7-6 (7/2) victory to reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals for the first time. This win avenges a straight-sets defeat Osaka suffered against Sabalenka at the French Open.

For me this court is so special. This is the first match I’ve won on this court. It means a lot.

— Naomi OsakaOsaka expressed her deep satisfaction after winning her first match on Centre Court at Wimbledon.

Osaka, revitalized under coach Tomasz Wiktorowski, has carried strong momentum into 2026, reaching the US Open semi-finals last year and remaining undefeated in sets at Wimbledon this year. The 14th seed has found her footing on grass, with her distinctive walk-on outfits, including a kimono and a cloak, seemingly taking pressure off her game.

"For me this court is so special. This is the first match I’ve won on this court. It means a lot," Osaka said. "It’s been a long time since I’ve had so much fun on the court and to do it here, really means a lot."

It’s been a long time since I’ve had so much fun on the court and to do it here, really means a lot.

— Naomi OsakaOsaka described her enjoyment of playing at Wimbledon after her victory over Aryna Sabalenka.

Osaka also credited her mother's home cooking for her recent success. "She cooks a lot. I feel like her cooking is powering me. I would like another meal tonight. She cooks a lot of Japanese food," she added. This victory marks a significant turnaround after losing to Sabalenka three consecutive times earlier in 2026.

I lost to her three times in a row. That really sucked. I wanted to have the opportunity to over-turn that.

— Naomi OsakaOsaka reflected on her motivation to defeat Sabalenka after previous losses.

Sabalenka's bid for a 15th consecutive Grand Slam quarter-final ended abruptly. The Belarusian, who had reached the Wimbledon semi-finals in her past three visits without reaching the final, suffered another unexpected setback. Osaka's aggressive play, including a blistering backhand and fierce ground-strokes, put Sabalenka under immense pressure, leading to an anguished scream after being broken for a second time.

She cooks a lot. I feel like her cooking is powering me. I would like another meal tonight. She cooks a lot of Japanese food.

— Naomi OsakaOsaka attributed her success to her mother's cooking.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jamaica Observer in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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