Wimbledon 2026: Aryna Sabalenka faces Naomi Osaka in blockbuster fourth round

When Sabalenka and Osaka first faced each other in New York almost eight years ago, they were both 20 and quickly rising through the rankings.

Both players said that the fourth round match, which Japan’s Osaka won with scores of 6-3 2-6 6-4, was a turning point in their careers.

“I felt we were both getting closer, [the] the next generation,” said first-place Sabalenka.

“When he won the match, I felt he was going to win a Slam.”

The Belarusian player, who had a separation on the deciding set, was right. Five days later, Osaka defeated Serena Williams to become the first player from Japan to win a major championship.

In the following 28 months, Osaka won three more Grand Slam titles. Sabalenka claimed none.

However, their careers soon took different paths.

Osaka briefly stepped away from tennis in 2021 to prioritize her mental health before going on 15-month maternity leave with her daughter Shai, who is born in July 2023.

While Osaka was away, Sabalenka finally had her breakthrough moment and captured her first Grand Slam title at the 2023 Australian Open.

“Clearly [we have a] different story,” Sabalenka said after her third-round win over Jelena Ostapenko.

“He’s been through different things. I’ve been through different things. I feel like we’re both completely different players and people.”