Naomi Osaka scored her biggest win since her return from maternity leave by knocking off world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the fourth round of Wimbledon on Sunday.
No. 14 Osaka, the four-time major champion on hardcourts, overpowered fellow four-time major champion Sabalenka, 6-2, 7-6(2), winning the match with a huge forehand service return to reach her first Wimbledon quarterfinal.
Sabalenka hadn’t lost in straight sets in a major since the 2020 U.S. Open. Sabalenka had beaten Osaka in their last three matches, including in straight sets in the fourth round at Roland Garros.
“Going into this match I lost to her like three times in a row, so that really sucked,” said Osaka, who took a 15-month maternity leave between September 2022 and January 2024.
In Tuesday’s quarterfinals, Osaka will next face No. 10 Karolina Muchova, who eliminated the last remaining Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova in three sets.
Sabalenka has won all four of her major titles on hardcourts and still hasn’t been past the semis at Wimbledon.
“No emotions,” she told reporters. “Just know that I can handle myself much better than last year, so obviously guys, if you were expecting something really fun, not gonna happen.
“Probably just gonna be short answers. I f***ed it up this year. Next year I’ll try a little bit better.”
The top three women’s seeds are now out of the draw and No. 4 Jessica Pegula, who prevailed in three sets over fellow American Iva Jovic, is the highest remaining seed on the women’s side.
Pegula improved to 57-16 against fellow Americans, 8-0 this year. She could face another American, No. 7 Coco Gauff, in the quarters. Gauff was due to face No. 11 Belinda Bencic later Sunday.
There will be a ninth straight first-time champion on the women’s side now that No. 2 Elena Rybakina, No. 3 and defending champion Iga Swiatek and Krejcikova are all out of the draw.
The last woman to repeat was Serena Williams in 2015-16.
This is a developing story.
