A rivalry renewed – Sabalenka and Osaka meet again

July 5, 2026 No Comments

A rivalry renewed – Sabalenka and Osaka meet againImage source, ReutersImage caption, Aryna Sabalenka (left) and Naomi Osaka will meet for the fourth time in 2026ByEmily SalleyBBC Sport journalist at WimbledonPublished58 minutes agoThere are a lot of similarities between Aryna Sabalenka and Naomi Osaka.Both have won four Grand Slam titles, been top of the world rankings and built their legacies on hard courts.The big-hitting pair broke through on the WTA Tour around the same time, but their journeys have been very different. While one peaked early, the other had a longer wait for success.After they first met at the 2018 US Open – with Osaka going on to win her maiden major – they did not face each other again until 2026.The pair have now faced each other three times in the space of three months – and on Sunday they will go head-to-head again in a blockbuster fourth-round clash at Wimbledon.GB’s Fery fights off Bergs and nosebleeds to reach fourth round

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‘I had the feeling she would win a Slam’

Naomi Osaka of Japan reacts to her win against Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus — Image caption,

Osaka broke down in tears after she beat Sabalenka to reach her first major quarter-final at the 2018 US Open

When Sabalenka and Osaka faced each other for the first time almost eight years ago in New York, they were both 20 years old and rapidly rising up the rankings.

Both players have reported the fourth-round match, which Japan’s Osaka won 6-3 2-6 6-4, was a turning point in their careers.

“I felt like we both were kind of upcoming, [the] next generation,” reported top seed Sabalenka.

“When she won that match, I had a feeling she is going to win a Slam.”

The Belarusian – who had been a break up in the deciding set – was right. Five days later, Osaka beat Serena Williams to become the first player from Japan to win a major title.

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

But their careers soon took different paths.

Osaka briefly stepped away from tennis in 2021 to prioritise her mental health before taking 15 months of maternity leave with daughter Shai, who was born in July 2023.

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

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

“She went through different things. I went through different things. I feel like we both were completely different players and people.”

‘Every time it’s a battle’

Osaka may have won their first meeting, but Sabalenka has come out on top in all of their matches this year.

At Indian Wells in March, she claimed a 6-2 6-4 win in 80 minutes thanks to a clinical serving performance.

Sabalenka hit eight aces, and no double faults, and saved the two break points she faced, ultimately going on to lift the trophy.

Osaka posed more of a threat on the clay of Madrid when she dominated a first-set tie-break and moved a break ahead in the second – only for Sabalenka to raise her level and fight back to win.

And at last month’s French Open, Sabalenka was once again superior on serve.

Osaka landed just 53% of her first serves and was broken on four occasions, while Sabalenka won 83% of points on her first serve – helped by 12 aces.

Sabalenka v Osaka head to head record

“It’s been a great rivalry. Every time I’m enjoying playing her, it’s a battle, it’s high-level matches. Super excited to play her,” Sabalenka reported.

Osaka reported she has learned something from each encounter, adding: “She’s the number one player in the world.

“If there is someone I had to lose to, I would pick that ranking position.”

‘I don’t fear the grass any more’

Now, five weeks after the French Open, they face each other at Wimbledon – on a surface both of them have struggled to master.

The pair have a combined 31 WTA Tour titles between them, but not a single one of those has arrived on grass.

Osaka reached the fourth round at SW19 for the first time in her career after thrashing Daria Kasatkina on Friday.

It continued a positive grass-court season for the 28-year-old, who made her first final on the surface at the Bad Homburg Open last month – although she was forced to retire injured at the start of the second set against Karolina Muchova.

One key improvement in Osaka’s game has been a noticeable increase in her average first-serve speed, climbing from 105mph at Wimbledon last year to 109mph this year.

Osaka 1st shot after first serve - backhand or forehand percentage - Wimbledon 2025

Not only has it made her serve more effective, she is able to take the ball early on the forehand side and assert control with her flat, powerful groundstrokes.

“I’ve been doing really well on grass this year. My confidence is pretty high,” Osaka reported.

“I don’t fear it too much any more. When I was younger I slipped pretty bad and ever since then I was scared of moving on grass.

“It’s taken a long time to get comfortable but I would say I am at that point now.”

Osaka 1st shot after first serve - backhand or forehand percentage - Wimbledon 2026

Sabalenka, meanwhile, has had more success at Wimbledon, but it remains the only Slam where she has not reached the final.

So far, she has looked at ease on the grass this year – evident as she moved past Ostapenko, who has won two titles on the surface, in straight sets with just six unforced errors.

Speaking after that third-round win, she reported: “The plan is to get better every day and do a little bit better than I usually do on this beautiful grass.”

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