Naomi Osaka and Aryna Sabalenka have set up another blockbuster duel, this time at the 2026 Wimbledon Championships. Both players enter the contest having not dropped a single set at SW19 en route to the fourth round.
Ahead of the match, Osaka shared her thoughts on her frequent meetings with the World No. 1 this year.
Naomi Osaka and Aryna Sabalenka Gear Up for First Wimbledon Clash
Osaka is enjoying a remarkable run at Wimbledon. Just a week after reaching the first grass-court final of her career in Bad Homburg, the four-time Grand Slam champion has advanced to the second week at the Championships for the first time.
Her run to the last 16 has included a 6-1, 7-5 victory over Elsa Jacquemot, a 6-3, 6-2 win against Anastasia Gasanova, and a 6-1, 6-3 triumph over Daria Kasatkina. Meanwhile, Sabalenka booked her place in the fourth round by defeating Teodora Kostović 6-2, 6-3; McCartney Kessler 6-1, 7-6(9); and Jeļena Ostapenko 6-4, 6-4.
Sunday’s showdown will be the fourth meeting between Osaka and Sabalenka in 2026, with each of their previous three encounters coming in the round of 16 at Indian Wells, Madrid, and the French Open. It will also mark their first meeting on grass.
Ahead of the clash, Naomi Osaka was asked during her press conference about facing the World No. 1 on grass for the first time.
“Obviously, I’ve been doing really well on grass this year, and my confidence is pretty high. I think, for me, I know what my grass-court tennis looks like. So, it gives me a pretty stable mindset going into the match,” she responded.
“And I also don’t really have as many doubts as I did on clay court. So maybe it would be a little bit better for me on grass, but, you know, I’m not so sure,” she added.
Osaka won the pair’s first tour-level meeting at the 2018 US Open, but the rivalry has swung in Sabalenka’s favor this year. The World No. 1 cruised to a 6-2, 6-4 victory at Indian Wells before edging tougher contests on the clay courts of Madrid (6-7(1), 6-3, 6-2) and the French Open (7-5, 6-3).
“I think from my end, I don’t mind playing someone recently. Even if I look at my results, I have only lost to her (Sabalenka) and Iga (Świątek) for like the past couple months,” the Japanese star said about the matchup.
“So, hey, a win is a win. I’ll take that. And also, she’s the No. 1 player in the world. So, if there is someone that I had to lose to, I would pick that ranking position. And if anything, I would say I learned from all of those matches. So hopefully I can apply it.”
Both Osaka and Sabalenka are chasing a fifth Grand Slam singles title at Wimbledon. Their Major success has come exclusively on hard courts, with each winning the US Open twice and the Australian Open twice. This year, they would hope to break new ground by capturing their first Wimbledon crown.
