Naomi Osaka stunned world number one Aryna Sabalenka with a 6-2, 7-6 (7/2) victory on Sundayas the Japanese star moved into the Wimbledon quarter-finals for the first time.
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Osaka avenged a straight-sets defeat against Sabalenka in the French Open last 16 in June by eliminating her fellow four-timeGrand Slam champion with a superb display on Centre Court.
It is five years since Osaka lifted her most recent Grand Slam trophy at the Australian Open.
Revitalised by coach Tomasz Wiktorowski, who mentored Iga Swiatek, the 28-year-old reached the semi-finals of the US Openlast year and has carried that momentum into 2026.
Osaka is yet to drop a set across her opening four matches at Wimbledon. Seeded 14th, she is finally finding her groove on grass, helped by the eye-catching outfits she arrives on court wearing.
Her walk-on costumes have included a kimono, a bomber jacket with a long train and a cloak that looks like an open kimono.
The 28-year-old believes all the talk about her haute couture has taken the pressure of her tennis.
Once again she treated fans to a memorable outfit before delivering a tailor-made performance that left Sabalenka’s Wimbledon challenge in tatters in the last 16.
Osaka faces Czech 10th seed Karolina Muchova for a place in the last four. “For me this court is so special. This is the firstmatch 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.
“I lost to her three times in a row. That really sucked. I wanted to have the opportunity to over-turn that.”
Sabalenka was brutally honest after suffering her earliest exit since 2022
“I just want to go, get completely drunk, forget about tennis, and try to get in better shape,” said Sabalenka.
“I feel like honestly it wasn’t there today. I tried my best. I was trying to adjust as best as possible,” added Sabalenka.
“I honestly feel like I left everything today. I don’t know. For some reason I didn’t have level at all.
“Like, I was overpowered, maybe couple times got over-emotional, but I was trying to stay in control. Yeah, I feel like sometimesthere are days like that. You just have to say congrats and leave.”
Osaka hands Sabalenka crushing defeat | 01:03
– Home-cooking –
Praising her mother’s home-cooking, who was watching from the players’ box, for inspiring her success over the last week, Osaka added: “She cooks a lot. I feel like her cooking is powering me. I would like another meal tonight. She cooks a lotof Japanese food.” Osaka and Sabalenka had already collided three times in 2026, with the Belarusian winning on the hard courtsof Indian Wells and on clay in Madrid and Roland Garros.
But the 28-year-old’s bid for a 15th consecutive Grand Slam quarter-final came to an abrupt halt.
Sabalenka had lost in the semi-finals on each of her past three visits to Wimbledon and has never made the final.
The Belarusian suffered a surprise loss to Diana Shnaider in the French Open quarter-finals and this was another painful resultfor a player with a history of unexpected meltdowns.
Osaka broke in the third game of the first set with a blistering back-hand that fizzed past Sabalenka.
Blasting fierce ground-strokes from the baseline, Osaka rattled Sabalenka to such an extent that the Belarusian let out ananguished scream after being broken for a second time.
Notorious for struggling in windy conditions, Sabalenka was completely out of rhythm and stormed off court for a break beforethe second set.
Sabalenka repeatedly banged the racquet against her head as Osaka took the set to a tie-break.
Sabalenka had won her last 21 tie-breaks at Grand Slams, but Osaka was unfazed, powering to victory with a flourish
Djoker breaks another Wimbledon record | 00:34
DJOKOVIC’S UGLY ADMISSION DESPITE MAKING HISTORY
Novak Djokovic admitted he is not happy with his “ugly” form at Wimbledon despite making All England Club history with his last-16 win over Roman Safiullin on Sunday.
Djokovic battled to a 7-6 (8/6), 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 victory against the Russian qualifier on Centre Court.
The 39-year-old has passed old rival Roger Federer into sole possession of the most men’s singles match-wins in Wimbledon history on 106.
But that even eye-catching statistic did nothing to improve Djokovic’s mood after an inconsistent display featuring severaloutbursts from the frustrated Serb.
It was the third time in four matches at this year’s tournament that Djokovic has dropped a set.
The seven-time Wimbledon champion faces Canadian third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime in the quarter-finals.
And he knows he will have to improve significantly if he is to end his wait to win a record 25th Grand Slam title.
“To be honest, haven’t felt really great on the court, so I was just relieved to get out of it and get a win,” he said.
“Satisfaction and enjoyment was not part of today’s win, to be honest. Of course, I’m relieved and happy to win, but I haven’tenjoyed it.
“I struggled to find the desired level in the game that I’m looking for. “But a win is a win, even if you win ugly. HopefullyI can build from this.” Djokovic knows better than most how to pace himself through the gruelling schedule of a Grand Slamtournament.
– ‘Hard for me to accept’ –
He acknowledged he has sky-high standards that make it harder to accept his performances when they fall below that level.
“There’s been definitely more than few where you go through a difficult match or two at least on your path to win a championship,” he said.
“Of course, I’m a perfectionist at core. I always want the best game, the best performance for myself and for the crowd.
“It’s not always possible, and sometimes it’s hard for me to accept that and deal with it.” Asked if frustrated outburstsserved as fuel to refocus him during matches, Djokovic said: “Sometimes it helps to kind of just filter things that are building inside.
“Not something I’m proud of when I get warning or something like that, I have a meltdown. Not something I’m looking for, forsure. But when it happens, it happens.
“Just try to eliminate it, not think about it too long, move on to the next point and the next task at hand.” Only MartinaNavratilova (120) has won more singles matches at Wimbledon than Djokovic.
But for Djokovic that feat is just a footnote in his bid to break his tie with Margaret Court for the most Grand Slams wonby a man or woman.
Djokovic would also equal Federer’s record of eight men’s singles titles at Wimbledon if he can win this year.
“Not on my priority list, to be honest. I haven’t thought about it,” he said of his latest milestone.
“Didn’t even know about it until after the last match win, so that’s really quite insignificant to me at the moment.”