Naomi Osaka stuns top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka to reach Wimbledon 2026 quarterfinals for first time
After the final point, Naomi Osaka pumped her fist, smiled, and lifted her racket above her head before spinning in celebration.
Naomi Osaka produced one of her best grass-court performances in years to defeat world number one Aryna Sabalenka 6-2, 7-6(2) on Sunday. The victory propelled the former world number one into the Wimbledon quarterfinals for the first time in her career.
The match on Centre Court showcased two of the biggest hitters in women’s tennis. However, Osaka’s flat, penetrating groundstrokes proved too much for Sabalenka on the day’s warmest conditions.
Naomi Osaka sets the tone early
Naomi Osaka broke serve in the third game with a sharp inside-out backhand winner. She maintained control throughout the opening set and closed it out comfortably 6-2. Her first-serve percentage stayed high, and she limited Sabalenka’s opportunities to settle into rallies.
The second set proved tighter. Sabalenka saved break points and forced a tiebreak. Yet a series of unforced errors from the top seed handed Osaka a 7-2 victory in the breaker.
A Special moment on Centre Court
After the final point, Naomi Osaka pumped her fist, smiled, and lifted her racket above her head before spinning in celebration. It marked her first win on the famous Centre Court.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve had so much fun on the court,” Osaka said. “And to do it here, it really means a lot.”
The victory also ended a long wait. Osaka had not beaten a top-10 player on a surface other than hard courts. It was also her first win against a world number one since she defeated Ash Barty in Beijing in 2019.
Aryna Sabalenka’s recent struggles continue
Aryna Sabalenka had won their previous three meetings this season, including a straight-sets victory at the French Open last month. She arrived at Wimbledon with a 21-match winning streak in major tiebreaks. That run ended on Sunday.
The loss marks Sabalenka’s second consecutive Grand Slam without reaching the later stages. After her quarterfinal exit at Roland Garros, she admitted she “just want to quit tennis.” Sunday’s result snapped her streak of 14 straight major appearances reaching at least the quarterfinals.
What comes next for Naomi Osaka
Naomi Osaka will face Karolina Muchova in the quarterfinals. Muchova defeated 2024 champion Barbora Krejcikova in three sets earlier on Sunday.
Osaka reached the final of a grass-court event last week in Bad Homburg before retiring injured. Despite the physical concern, she looked sharp and powerful against the top seed.
Osaka wore her signature white kimono for the walk-on, a look inspired by a Quentin Tarantino film character. The outfit added to the occasion as she delivered one of her most complete performances on grass.