Naomi Osaka scored her biggest win since her return from maternity leave by knocking off world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the fourth round of Wimbledon on Sunday.
No. 14 Osaka, the four-time major champion on hardcourts, overpowered Sabalenka, 6-2, 7-6(2), winning the match with a huge forehand service return o reach her first Wimbledon quarterfinal.
Sabalenka hadn’t lost in straight sets in a major since the 2020 U.S. Open. Sabalenka had beaten Osaka in their last three matches, including in straight sets in the fourth round at Roland Garros.
“Going into this match I lost to her like three times in a row, so that really sucked,” Osaka said.
Osaka took a 15-month maternity leave between September 2022 and January 2024.
The top three women’s seeds are now out of the draw and No. 4 Jessica Pegula, who prevailed in three sets over fellow American Iva Jovic, is the highest remaining seed on the women’s side.
Pegula improved to 57-16 against fellow Americans, 8-0 this year. She could face another American, No. 7 Coco Gauff, in the quarters. Gauff was due to face No. 11 Belinda Bencic later Sunday.
There will be a ninth straight first-time champion on the women’s side now that No. 2 Elena Rybakina, No. 3 Iga Swiatek and Barbora Krejickova are all out of the women’s draw.
The last woman to repeat was Serena Williams in 2015-16.
This is a developing story.
This article was originally published on Forbes.com
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