Aryna Sabalenka and Naomi Osaka are already building anticipation for their upcoming Round of 16 clash at the 2026 BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, with both players openly expressing excitement about the matchup.
Speaking separately after their third-round victories, the two Grand Slam champions reflected on each other’s game, their shared history, and the intrigue surrounding their long-awaited rematch. While Sabalenka joked that their meeting might begin like a “fashion show,” Osaka described the opportunity to face the world No. 1 as both motivating and exciting.
Aryna Sabalenka Praises Naomi Osaka’s Comeback Ahead of Indian Wells Clash
Osaka entered this year’s tournament as the No. 16 seed in what marks her seventh appearance at the prestigious WTA 1000 event in the California desert. The 2018 champion began her campaign with a second-round win over Andorran qualifier Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva, 7-5, 6-2. She followed that with a three-set battle against Colombia’s Camila Osorio, winning 6-1, 3-6, 6-1 to secure a place in the fourth round.
Sabalenka, the tournament’s top seed, is also playing Indian Wells for the seventh time. She opened with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Japanese qualifier Himeno Sakatsume before defeating Romania’s Jaqueline Cristian 6-4, 6-1 to book a Round of 16 meeting with Osaka. Their upcoming encounter will be just the second of their careers on the WTA Tour, with Osaka winning their only previous matchup in three sets during the fourth round of the 2018 US Open.
During her post-match press conference after defeating Cristian, Sabalenka spoke enthusiastically about the matchup and the spectacle surrounding Osaka. “Well, it would be for sure a fashion show at the beginning. Then a crazy match,” Sabalenka said.
She went on to praise Osaka’s return to competition following motherhood and the level she has shown since coming back. “She’s a great player. Came back after pregnancy. Incredible shape. I have been watching her matches, really admire her,” Sabalenka added.
The Belarusian also acknowledged the memory of their earlier meeting, hinting that she would like another chance against the Japanese star. “I’ll have a chance to get a revenge, hopefully. I would like to play her.”
How Does Osaka View Her Rematch With World No. 1?
Osaka shared a similarly respectful tone when she addressed the matchup after her third-round win over Osorio. “For me, it’s really exciting,” Osaka said. “I have watched her, I don’t want to say ‘grow over the years,’ because I think she’s only a little bit younger than me and I feel like an old person, but yeah, I have watched her grow over the years.”
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She pointed to Sabalenka’s consistency and current ranking as added motivation. “Obviously she’s so consistent, she’s the No. 1 player in the world and it’s, for me, very motivating. I’m excited to play her, and I’m looking forward to it a lot.”
When reminded about their 2018 US Open meeting, Osaka recalled how difficult the contest felt during her run to the title. “I do remember it just because I felt like in that tournament, that was the hardest match for me,” she said. “I remember thinking we’re both going to get very far. So, yeah, obviously I was right. But yeah, it was definitely a really difficult match. It’s really cool to see how far we both have come.”
The winner of this matchup will advance to the quarterfinals, where they will face either sixth seed Amanda Anisimova or the winner of the third-round match between 10th seed Victoria Mboko and 23rd seed Anna Kalinskaya.
