Naomi Osaka is aiming for revenge against Aryna Sabalenka when the Japanese star faces the women’s world number one in the fourth round of Wimbledon.
Title rivals Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner are aiming to stay on course for a blockbuster semi-final showdown.
Osaka hopes to reach the quarterfinals of Wimbledon for the first time by avenging a 7-5, 6-3 defeat against Sabalenka at the French Open on June 16.
Both are four-time Grand Slam champions but have never won Wimbledon.
They have already faced off three times in 2026, with Sabalenka winning on hard courts at Indian Wells and then facing off on clay in Madrid and Roland Garros.
Having won six out of seven sets this year, Sabalenka is enjoying their latest meeting.
“Yes, it was a great rivalry. Every time it’s a battle. Every time it’s a high-level match. I’m very happy to play with her,” she said.
Osaka, seeded 14th, has finally found her groove on the grass, helped by the eye-catching outfits she wears on court.
The 28-year-old believes all the fashion talk has outweighed her tennis.
“In some ways, I feel like I have a lot more opportunity to talk about my clothes than I do about tennis,” Osaka said.
“She’s the number one player in the world. If there’s someone I had to lose to, I’d pick that ranking position. If anything, I’d say I’ve learned from all those matches.”
Meanwhile, Sinner’s bid for a second consecutive Wimbledon crown will face an unusual test from Japanese qualifier Shintaro Mochizuki.
While Sinner’s booming serve and quick groundstrokes make him a formidable opponent on Wimbledon’s fast grass courts, Mochizuki is hoping to upset the world number one by taking the opposite approach.
Chasing a record 25th Grand Slam title, Djokovic is gaining momentum as he advances to his ninth consecutive Wimbledon quarter-final.
The 39-year-old has not missed a match in the All England Club’s last eight matches since 2016.
Originally published as Wimbledon 2026: Naomi Osaka expects Sabalenka’s revenge when Sinner Djokovic takes to court