World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka defeated four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka 7-5, 6-3 in the French Open fourth round on Monday, advancing to the quarterfinals and remaining the only major champion left in either singles draw at Roland-Garros. The match was played as the night session feature, marking the first women's match in that slot since 2023 after 32 consecutive men's ties.
How did the match unfold?
Osaka raced to a 2-0 lead before Sabalenka broke back and levelled at 2-2 with a service hold featuring three aces. The set remained on serve until the 11th game, when Sabalenka struck with a blistering backhand winner to secure the break and close out the set 7-5. In the second set, Osaka held serve early and led 3-2 after staving off a break point in a marathon game, but Sabalenka produced a feather-soft half-volley winner to break for 4-3 and seize control. She then held serve to close out the match 6-3, finishing with 18 winners to Osaka's 13.
What did Sabalenka say about the victory?
"I'm mostly happy with the way I served and I was able to keep all the pressure on her," Sabalenka said on court, according to Flashscore. "I didn't expect I would serve that great. I feel like I'm getting better and better with every match I play and overall I'm super happy with how I played today."
What comes next for both players?
Sabalenka will face Russia's Diana Shnaider in the quarterfinals. This victory extends Sabalenka's remarkable form: she has won 31 of her last 34 matches and recorded her 31st victory of the 2026 season. Osaka's run at Roland-Garros ends at the fourth round, her best-ever result at the French Open. The loss marked Sabalenka's third straight win over Osaka this year, following victories at Indian Wells and Madrid earlier in the season.
Sources
- Bleacher Report: Naomi Osaka Loses to No. 1 Sabalenka, Updated French Open Women's Bracket, Roland-Garros Results. Published 2026-06-01.
- The Straits Times: Relentless Sabalenka beats Osaka to reach French Open quarters. Published 2026-06-02.
- Flashscore: Sabalenka storms past Osaka and into the last eight of the French Open. Published 2026-06-01.
- Lob and Smash: Aryna Sabalenka is starting to look unstoppable at Roland Garros. Published 2026-06-01.
Reported from public sources.