A resurgent Naomi Osaka stunned world number one Aryna Sabalenka with a brilliant performance to reach the quarter-finals of Wimbledon for the first time.
Japan’s Osaka outplayed the serve, strokes and minds of her fellow four-time Grand Slam champion to win 6-2, 7-6 (7-2) on Center Court.
This is Sabalenka’s earliest appearance at a Grand Slam since the 2022 French Open and the first time she has been eliminated in straight sets in 122 matches.
But she fell to an inspired performance from Osaka, who clutched her racquet to her head in disbelief after winning the second match.
This is the first Wimbledon round of 16 appearance for Osaka, who also reached the second week of the French Open for the first time last month.
“I haven’t had this much fun on court in a long time,” Osaka said.
“To make it here means a lot.”
It was the fourth time in three months that the two power forwards had met, with Sabalenka winning the previous three meetings.
This time Osaka dominated the entire match, matching Sabalenka’s pace and moving well around the court.
Sabalenka then made a hasty exit from the tournament as her search for the year’s first Grand Slam continues.
Osaka will face Czech Karolina Muchova, ranked 10th, to reach the semifinals.
Muchova’s victory over 2024 champion Barbora Krejcikova means there will be another women’s singles champion for the 10th straight tournament.