Osaka Stuns Sabalenka to Reach Wimbledon Quarter-Finals
Just two years ago, Naomi Osaka was grappling with confusion over a sport that once felt as natural as breathing but had left her feeling lost.
After returning from maternity leave in July 2023, Osaka struggled to reconnect with her game, expressing that she did not "feel like I'm in my body."
"It's a strange feeling, missing balls I shouldn't miss, hitting balls softer than I used to," she wrote in August 2024.
"I try to tell myself, 'It's fine you're doing great'. Mentally, it's really draining."
However, on Centre Court on Sunday afternoon, Osaka experienced a resurgence, enjoying her time on court more than she had in a long while.
Japan's Osaka delivered an impressive performance to defeat world number one Aryna Sabalenka at Wimbledon, advancing to the quarter-finals.
Two-time Grand Slam champion Tracy Austin described Osaka's display as "the best we've seen Naomi Osaka since she came back."
When asked about the changes that contributed to her success, Osaka credited her coaching team, mindset, and her mother's cooking.
"My mum is over there, she cooks a lot and I feel like her cooking is powering me so I would really appreciate another meal tonight!
She cooks a bunch of Japanese food, so shout out to Japanese food.
It has been a long time since I've had so much fun on the court, so to do it here means a lot."
Context of Osaka’s Career and Challenges
By the age of 23, Osaka had secured two Australian Open and two US Open titles and reached the top of the world rankings.
She has been candid about the pressures of professional tennis, having faced bouts of depression following her first major win in 2018.
After briefly stepping away from tennis in 2021 to focus on her mental health, Osaka took 15 months of maternity leave to care for her daughter Shai.
During her absence, players such as Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, and Coco Gauff won major titles and established rivalries, making Osaka's return more challenging.
Her struggles were highlighted by a 6-2, 6-1 loss to Swiatek in Rome, which became a turning point.
"I felt like I just shut everyone out [after the loss]. I just got on a plane back home," Osaka said.
"I didn't talk to my team. I felt really ashamed about what I did.
After that I just told myself I'm nearing 30, I've really got to enjoy the time I have.
Tennis is very important to me, but I have a life outside of that. I have to treasure tennis in the way that I can, which is not putting too much importance on it."
Osaka’s Performance Against Sabalenka
Osaka matched Sabalenka’s pace while exhibiting greater control. Unlike Sabalenka, who expressed frustration vocally and with gestures, Osaka maintained composure, often turning her back on missed shots and jogging back calmly.
She played freely, hitting 21 winners and winning 87% of points on her first serve.
Osaka attributed improvements in her grass-court game to coach Tomasz Wiktorowski, whom she began working with in mid-2025.
"When I was younger, I used to be extremely low, to the point where I'd bang my knees on the ground and think maybe I need knee guards while I'm playing," Osaka said.
"We all understood that I have potential to play really good on grass. I just need to figure out the movement part.
I've done a lot of drills with Tomasz. Most of them weren't necessarily even on the grass court. It was more like pattern recognition and getting me comfortable with my own game.
Throughout the entire year, he's been getting me more comfortable with my movement."
Osaka also credited her calmness to having her family around her in London. They are staying together in a house and recently celebrated Shai's third birthday on Thursday. Osaka humorously told the Court One crowd on Friday that she had put her daughter in time-out because "she was kind of bad."
Looking Ahead to the Quarter-Finals
Osaka’s next opponent, Karolina Muchova, is known for her crafty play, using spin and guile to counter pace, presenting a challenging test.
Osaka will face Muchova as a "looser, calmer, and more ready" competitor.
Tracy Austin commented on BBC TV:
"Osaka probably thought it [her return] was taking way too long - this time last year she wasn't even ranked in the top 50.
She has done a great job of getting more consistent, she is fitter than I've ever seen her and she is so committed to being controlled out there."
Osaka’s Wimbledon Journey Fueled by Family Support
Osaka’s recent Wimbledon success has been bolstered by her coaching changes and the support of her family, including the energy she draws from her mother’s cooking.
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