Wimbledon 2026: Naomi Osaka stuns Aryna Sabalenka in superb performance to reach quarter-finals

A resurgent Naomi Osaka stunned world number one Aryna Sabalenka in a brilliant performance to reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals for the first time.

Japan's Osaka out-served, out-hit and out-thought her fellow four-time Grand Slam champion to win 6-2 7-6 (7-2) on Centre Court.

This is Sabalenka's earliest exit at a Grand Slam since the 2022 French Open, and the first time she has exited one in straight sets for 122 matches.

But she fell to an inspired performance by Osaka, who held her racquet to her head in disbelief after clinching victory on her second match point.

It is a first Wimbledon last-eight appearance for Osaka, who also reached the second week of the French Open for the first time last month.

"It's been a long time since I had so much fun on the court," said Osaka.

"To do it here means a lot."
This was the fourth time in three months that the two big-hitters had met, with Sabalenka winning the previous three encounters.

This time Osaka was dominant throughout, matching Sabalenka pace-for-pace and moving well around the court.

Sabalenka made a hasty exit afterwards as her search for a first Grand Slam of the year continues.

Osaka will go on to face Czech 10th seed Karolina Muchova for a place in the semi-finals.

Muchova's victory over 2024 champion Barbora Krejcikova means there will be a different women's singles champion for the 10th tournament in a row.

• Osaka beats Sabalenka at own game

Osaka had struggled to find her best form since returning from maternity leave in July 2023, but a change of coach late last year seems to have helped.

Under Tomasz Wiktorowski - who previously coached Iga Swiatek - Osaka reached the 2025 US Open semi-finals before recording career-best results at Roland Garros and now here.

Asked for the reasons behind her improvement on grass-courts, Osaka said: "The big Polish man! Shout out Tomasz!

"Shout out to the rest of my team, they are the best. I have so much fun with them and I learn so much from them.

"I'm so grateful they are on this journey with me."

She did to Sabalenka what the top seed usually does to other players - dominated the baseline rallies and relied on her serve and forehand to take control of the point.

A huge winner - the second of 21 she would hit in the match - gave Osaka an early break in the first set, and she went a double break up as errors flew off Sabalenka's racquet.

Both hit the ball hard, but Osaka was more controlled, allowing her to race through the opener in just 32 minutes.

Sabalenka struggled in the second set, at one point hitting her head with her racquet, but her serve bailed her out of trouble.

Having won 21 successive tie-breaks at a major, Sabalenka would have been confident of forcing a decider - but Osaka again took charge, racing to a 5-1 lead and not looking back.