Osaka rediscovers her spark with Wimbledon win over Sabalenka

Naomi Osaka has reached the Wimbledon quarter-finals after defeating world number one Aryna Sabalenka. The win marked one of her strongest performances since returning to the tour after maternity leave.

Osaka’s level was backed up by the numbers: she struck 21 winners and won 87% of points on her first serve. She also pointed to her work with coach Tomasz Wiktorowski, whom she began working with in mid-2025, as a factor in feeling more secure with her movement and patterns on grass.

The result carries extra weight because Osaka has spoken openly about the difficulty of rebuilding after her return in July 2023, including doubts about her body and timing. A heavy loss to Iga Swiatek in Rome appears to have pushed her toward a different balance: valuing tennis without letting it consume everything.

Family has also been part of the Wimbledon picture. Osaka said having relatives nearby in London, including her mother’s Japanese cooking, has helped her mood, while she also celebrated daughter Shai’s third birthday during the tournament.

Karolina Muchova is next, offering a different tactical challenge with variety and spin. For editors and fans, the question is whether this performance is a one-off surge or evidence that Osaka is again becoming a major force deep into Grand Slam draws.