Naomi Osaka beat Daria Kasatkina 6-1, 6-3 to reach Wimbledon Round of 16 for the first time, showcasing improved grass-court form, confidence, and flair ahead of a tough quarterfinal clash, while World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka eased past Jelena Ostapenko.
IMAGE: Japan’s Naomi Osaka arrives at Court 1 ahead of her third-round Wimbledon match against Australia’s Daria Kasatkina at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, on Friday. Photographs: Jaimi Joy/Reuters
Key Points
Naomi Osaka defeated Daria Kasatkina 6-1, 6-3 to reach the Wimbledon fourth round for the first time in her career.
The 14th seed combined powerful shot-making with growing confidence on grass to record her best-ever run at the All England Club.
Osaka will next face World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka for a place in the quarterfinals.
Sabalenka secured her spot in the fourth round with a comfortable win over Jelena Ostapenko.
Naomi Osaka continued to make a statement at Wimbledon as she paired her flair off the court with growing confidence on it to dismiss unseeded Australian Daria Kasatkina 6-1, 6-3 on Friday and reach the last 16 for the first time.
Widely regarded as one of tennis’s top fashion trailblazers, Osaka has attracted plenty of attention for eye-catching dresses in the first week, but the four-times Grand Slam champion from Japan is increasingly letting her tennis do the talking.
After shedding another variation of her “Kill Bill” kimono walk-on ensemble — which this time was a flower-patterned robe — the 14th seed mixed power with precision to see off Kasatkina and continue her best run at the All England Club.
Osaka Backs Fashion Statement with Commanding Display
The 28-year-old fired a backhand winner to break Russian-born Kasatkina in the second game and then backed it up with a deep forehand to claim a double break as she raced through the first set on a sun-drenched Court One.
“I’ve actually never won on this court, so I’m really glad to have made a really good memory here,” Osaka said on court to loud applause.
“Thank you guys for cheering us on, it was a really big honour for me to play here … I definitely felt really good. I’ve played a lot of matches on grass in the past two weeks.
“I felt confident, and she played good as well, so I’m happy with the result today.”
• Soaring Temperatures Put Wimbledon on Heat Alert
Sabalenka Awaits in Quarterfinal Bid
Osaka, who reached her first tour-level grass court final at Bad Homburg before retiring injured, showed she could be a force in the second week of Wimbledon as she brawled after squandering an early lead in the second set to raise two match points.
She finished the second one in style to book what promises to be an intriguing clash with world number one Aryna Sabalenka for a spot in the quarterfinals.
“I’m just trying to take it one day at a time, one point at a time,” Osaka added before addressing her entourage.
“I hope that I’m able to get further and further, but thank you guys for watching.”
Sabalenka Thrashes Ostapenko to Set Up Osaka Showdown
IMAGE: Aryna Sabalenka will take on Naomi Osaka in the pre-quarterfinal. Photograph: Toby Melville/Reuters
If this was meant to be a tough test of Aryna Sabalenka’s grasscourt pedigree at this year’s Wimbledon, the Belarusian passed it with flying colours as she handed Jelena Ostapenko a 6-4, 6-4 reality check to reach the fourth round on Friday.
When on target, the Latvian’s bludgeoning shots can knock out anyone, as Sabalenka was only too aware of after losing their most recent encounter in last year’s Stuttgart final.
Add in the fact that 31st-ranked Ostapenko owns two grasscourt titles to Sabalenka’s zero, the world number one might have thought she was in for a sticky afternoon on a glorious sunny day on Centre Court.
The exchanges were fast and furious, the rallies were almost non-existent and the supercharged speed at which Sabalenka crossed the finishing line would have even impressed Royal Box guest Usain Bolt.
A break in the fifth game handed Sabalenka the advantage which she never relinquished as she sealed the opening set with a 111 mph ace.
Ostapenko, the 2017 Roland Garros champion, saved one match point on her serve at 4-5 down in the second set but there was no reprieve one game later as the Belarusian top seed clenched her fist in victory after watching Ostapenko’s service return float long.
Sabalenka had given herself an 8-out-of-10 rating for her first-round performance and 9-out-of-10 for the follow up. The authoritative way she dispatched danger opponent Ostapenko on Friday meant she was now heading for perfection.
“She’s really dangerous and the last match I played against her, I couldn’t do anything. She just smashed me off the court,” said Sabalenka, who will next face Wimbledon’s 2026 fashion queen Naomi Osaka.
“I’m really happy that I was able to get this win, especially in straight sets, and happy with the performance, with the level.”
Looking to improve on her three semifinal appearances at the spiritual home of tennis, the four-time Grand Slam champion added: “The plan is to get better every day and do a little bit better than I usually do on this beautiful grass.”