London [UK], July 6 (ANI): Naomi Osaka produced one of many greatest upsets of Wimbledon 2026, defeating World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka 6-2, 7-6(2) on Centre Court on Sunday to succeed in the quarter-finals on the All England Club for the primary time in her profession.
The four-time Grand Slam champion delivered an excellent show of energy and precision to finish Sabalenka’s dominance of their latest rivalry, having misplaced to the Belarusian 3 times already this season, together with within the fourth spherical of the French Open. The victory additionally marked Osaka’s first win over Sabalenka because the 2018 US Open, in keeping with the WTA.
Osaka’s triumph ended a number of exceptional streaks. It handed Sabalenka her first straight-sets defeat at a Grand Slam because the 2020 US Open, snapped the highest seed’s run of 14 consecutive Grand Slam quarter-final appearances, and gave the Japanese star her first victory over a World No. 1 since defeating Ash Barty in Beijing in 2019.
Playing on the warmest day of the match, Osaka dictated play from the outset together with her trademark flat groundstrokes and booming serve. She secured an early break for a 2-1 lead within the opening set earlier than racing by it 6-2, persistently overpowering Sabalenka from the baseline.
The second set proved much more aggressive, however Osaka maintained her composure underneath stress. She saved each break factors she confronted through the match and compelled a tie-break after neither participant might discover the decisive breakthrough.
Once the tie-break started, Sabalenka’s uncharacteristic errors allowed Osaka to grab management. The Japanese star closed it out 7-2 to finish victory in a single hour and 28 minutes, celebrating with a sequence of fist pumps earlier than elevating her racket above her head in delight after securing her maiden Centre Court win.
The statistics mirrored Osaka’s dominance. She landed 87 per cent of her first serves in comparison with Sabalenka’s 69 per cent, struck eight aces to her opponent’s 5, and completed with 21 winners whereas limiting the World No. 1’s alternatives all through the competition.
Fresh off reaching the primary grass-court closing of her profession in Bad Homburg earlier than retiring with a foot harm, Osaka has now carried that momentum into Wimbledon. She will face Karolina Muchova within the quarter-finals after the Czech defeated defending champion Barbora Krejcikova 7-5, 5-7, 6-3. (ANI)