Osaka topples world No. 1 Sabalenka to reach a first Wimbledon quarterfinal

Naomi Osaka had already lost to Aryna Sabalenka three times this season. On Sunday, on the Centre Court where she had never before won a match, Japan’s Osaka out-served and out-hit the world No. 1 from the first ball, beating the top seed 6-2, 7-6(2) to reach the Wimbledon quarterfinals for the first time. It was Osaka’s first victory over Sabalenka since the 2018 US Open, and her 20th win of a resurgent 2026.

Osaka’s win brought down three of Aryna Sabalenka’s longest-running Grand Slam streaks at once. By reaching the quarterfinals herself, Osaka denied Sabalenka a place in the last eight for the first time in 14 majors, ending a run of 14 consecutive Grand Slam quarterfinals. She also snapped Sabalenka’s streak of 21 straight tiebreaks won at the majors. And by closing out the match in straight sets, Osaka handed the top seed her first straight-sets defeat at a Grand Slam in 121 matches. She is the first player to defeat Sabalenka in straight sets in a major since Azarenka (US Open 2020).

“Going into this match, I lost to her three times in a row, so that really sucked,” Osaka said on court. “I wanted to turn it over, and I’m really glad I had the opportunity to do that.”

“Mom, I would really appreciate another meal tonight”

A four-time Grand Slam champion, all of her titles won on hard courts, Osaka had never gone beyond the third round here in six main-draw appearances. Her breakthrough caps a rapid adjustment to grass: last week she reached her first Tour-level final on the surface at Bad Homburg, retiring in the final against – of all players – Karolina Muchova, the No. 10 seed she will now meet again in the last eight after Muchova beat Barbora Krejcikova in an all-Czech fourth round.

“She overpowered me, it was an incredible level from her. I think it was a combination of both: I didn’t play my best and she played probably her best. Sometimes you can go out there and do everything you can and still lose the match. What could I do if the person is acing and hitting the lines, going for a shot without any fear? I was the one trying to find my rhythm. It was two extremes, I was bundling myself and she was just going for it. Well done to Naomi, I’m wishing her the best.”

“This court is so special. This is the first match I’ve won on this court, so 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.”

Asked what had ignited her grass-court game, Osaka deflected to her camp, thanking her coach Tomasz Wiktorowski – “the big Polish man” – and the rest of her team. She also credited a more domestic source of fuel: her mother, watching from the box. “Her cooking is powering me,” Osaka said, “so, mom, I would really appreciate another meal tonight.”