SABALENKA REACTS TO STATEMENT WIN OVER OSAKA IN HER ON-COURT INTERVIEW
"She's (Osaka) such a great player, always tough battles against her, super aggressive tennis," Sabalenka said. "I’m mostly happy with the way that I served and was able to put a lot of pressure back on her.
"Happy with the win, it was a very tough one and, wow, it’s amazing to play in the night session in front of you guys (to the crowd).
"That was my first one and I really want to keep going, but who knows, right? Thank you so much for bringing such an amazing atmosphere - and you guys truly make this place special, thank you."
She added: "I’m super happy with my serve, I didn’t think I would be serving that great.
"It’s probably not the best service game I ever played in my life, but this tournament for sure, I feel like I am getting better and better with every match I am playing and (I'm) super pleased with the overall performance today."
SABA STAT: Sabalenka has reached the Women’s Singles QF in her 14th consecutive GS main draw appearance, becoming the first player to achieve the feat since Serena Williams (16 between Wimbledon 2000 and Australian Open 2005) -stats via Opta.
Sabalenka moonwalks after lighting up night session with thumping win over Osaka
Video credit: TNT Sports
TNT Sports is the exclusive French Open broadcaster in the UK and Ireland. Coverage of every court will be available to stream live on HBO Max
21:00
21:00
GAME, SET AND MATCH! - SABALENKA 7-5 6-3 OSAKA
Aryna Sabalenka clinches a place in her fourth French Open quarter-final in a row with a straight-sets victory over Naomi Osaka.
The 2025 runner-up moved 3-1 up in her head-to-head with the Japanese star as she came out on top in the much-hyped battle of the four-time Major winners.
The world No. 1 fell behind early in the opening set but was the more dominant force as the match progressed and broke for a second time in the second stanza to claim victory in one hour and 27 minutes.
Sabalenka will now meet 25th-seed Diana Shnaider in the last eight.
'What a performance' - Watch as Sabalenka seals 'stunning' win over Osaka
Video credit: TNT Sports
20:58
20:58
SABALENKA 7-5 5-3 OSAKA
Sabalenka bamboozles Naomi with the drop shot once again and Chris Evert feels the Japanese needs to do a better job reading it.
The Japanese can’t offer enough resistance and a second serve ace sees the world number one consolidate with a game to 15.
20:53
20:53
BREAK! – SABALENKA 7-5 4-3 OSAKA
Sabalenka is seeing the ball big on the return and regularly pressing Naomi back.
The Belarusian steps in to pummel a backhand winner down the line and another sizzling, deep strike forces an off-balance jab into the net from the Japanese to cough up two break points.
The top seed only needs one as she calmly guides away a deft, angled volley after Osaka had managed to claw back a drive volley.
What a point! Sabalenka breaks Osaka in second set to take total control
Video credit: TNT Sports
20:50
20:50
SABALENKA 7-5 3-3 OSAKA
Osaka gives Sabalenka food for though with great depth on a return that knocks the top seed off balance and forces a rushed forehand into the net.
The world number one responds at Pulp (30-30) with her 11th ace of the evening but then double faults to prolong the examination at deuce.
Naomi is ultra-aggressive on the return but only lands one out of three attempts to deliver with first-strike tennis and Sabalenka is able to wriggle free with a fabulous drop shot to finish.
20:45
20:45
VIDEO: SABALENKA COMES FROM BEHIND TO SECURE A KEENLY-CONTESTED OPENER
'Strikes the first blow' - Sabalenka sends down ace to seal opening set
Video credit: TNT Sports
TNT Sports is the exclusive French Open broadcaster in the UK and Ireland. Coverage of every court will be available to stream live on HBO Max
20:43
20:43
SABALENKA 7-5 2-3 OSAKA
Sabalenka presses to deuce as a barrage of deep, probing strikes create the opening for a composed forehand pass down the line.
Osaka responds with a clever backhand back-in-behind the Belarusian, but she can’t convert on a couple of game points, fluffing one with a howler of an overhead way off the island.
It allows the top seed to eventually carve out a break point, but she can’t find the backhand return off a wide second serve.
Naomi uses the adrenalin rush to good effect as an ace and a lightning bolt of a plus-one forehand edge her through a dogged hold.
20:35
20:35
SABALENKA 7-5 2-2 OSAKA
Sabalenka opens with a backhand into the net but turns to the dropper once again to reap rewards when Osaka stands firm in the power exchange from the baseline.
The Japanese barely gets another touch as a pair of aces and a clutch first serve quickly level matters once again.
20:31
20:31
SABALENKA 7-5 1-2 OSAKA
‘Power plus consistency is a lethal combination for her,’ says Chris Evert on TNT Sports comms as Sabalenka fires her way into a 0-30 lead.
There’s a touch of the commentator’s curse about it as the top seed twice fires off the island to give Osaka a lifeline and the Japanese gets down low to brilliantly steer away a rasping return to the opposite flank.
The 16th seed defends well on what proves to be the final rally of the contest and a crosscourt forehand on the run forces Sabalenka into a risky drop shot that lands well wide.
20:27
20:27
SABALENKA 7-5 1-1 OSAKA
Sabalenka shows great agility to stretch into a forehand volley and knock away Osaka’s backhand pick-up off another velvety dropper.
The Belarusian then clinches the hold to 15 with a stonking crosscourt forehand winner from beyond the baseline to ease on to the board.
20:23
20:23
SABALENKA 7-5 0-1 OSAKA
Naomi shrugs off her third double fault of the contest to kick off Set 2 with a solid hold to 15.
20:19
20:19
SET! - SABALENKA 7-5 OSAKA
Sabalenka serves out a top-class 47-minute opener to love to strike first blood in the battle between the four-time Major winners.
20:16
20:16
BREAK! – SABALENKA 6-5 OSAKA
Osaka can’t find the first serve and Sabalenka takes advantage as she rasps a missile-like return to feet to force the error and open the door at 15-30.
The top seed dictates again on the next point and rifles a backhand down the line to tee up two break points.
Naomi can’t come up clutch on serve and she’s penned back again with the Belarusian’s sheer pace, power and depth rushing her into a tame riposte into the net.
20:13
20:13
SABALENKA 5-5 OSAKA
‘Sabalenka seems to be winning her serve more easily,’ observes Chris Evert on TNT Sports comms.
The tennis legend isn’t wrong as a sixth ace helps propel the world number one through a quick-fire game to 15.
20:09
20:09
SABALENKA 4-5 OSAKA
Osaka shows her vulnerability coming forward as Sabalenka picks her off with a sharp backhand pass.
The Japanese star returns to her tennis staple and a trio of one-two punches put her in the driving seat.
However, the 16th seed lets a 40-15 lead slip with a pair of misfires off the backhand and then double faults on game point to prolong the face-off around deuce.
The 16th seed is under pressure but finds her A-game when she counter punches a stunning crosscourt forehand to repel Sabalenka’s raking return and then arrows a deep backhand down the line to secure a hard-fought hold.
20:03
20:03
SABALENKA 4-4 OSAKA
The short slice is a tactic that is paying major dividends for Aryna and may well end up being a key factor in this heavyweight battle.
Osaka doesn’t look happy having to surge in from the baseline and she’s had little joy with the pick-ups.
The top seed uses it to hit back from 0-15 and seizes control when she scorches a blistering backhand down the line.
Osaka can’t make enough inroads to create any pressure and a big serve seals the hold to 30 to achieve parity once more.
20:00
20:00
VIDEO: SABALENKA RESPONDS AFTER OSAKA SEIZED THE EARLY INITIATIVE
'Brute force' - Sabalenka breaks back immediately against Osaka in lively start
Video credit: TNT Sports
TNT Sports is the exclusive French Open broadcaster in the UK and Ireland. Coverage of every court will be available to stream live on HBO Max
19:58
19:58
SABALENKA 3-4 OSAKA
‘Wow, both of these women are just serving bullets,’ exclaims Evert on TNT Sports comms.
Indeed, Naomi blasts her way to a 40-0 lead with a succession of hefty deliveries, but Sabalenka gets into the game with a pair of deft droppers into the forecourt that leave the Japanese 16th seed scrambling.
The Belarusian makes deuce with a thunderous crosscourt backhand but Osaka responds with a clutch serve and a brutal crosscourt backhand off the short ball.
19:53
19:53
SABALENKA 3-3 OSAKA
‘I feel like they’ve both gotten the rust out of the way. They’ve both gotten the flutters out of the way and we are going to be seeing their best tennis,’ says Chris Evert on TNT Sports comms.
It’s certainly the case in terms of the serve as Sabalenka takes her tally to five aces on her way to quickly levelling up at three apiece.
19:50
19:50
SABALENKA 2-3 OSAKA
Osaka hits her spots with the first serve and regains the scoreboard advantage with an impressive love hold.
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Sabalenka moonwalks after lighting up night session with thumping win over Osaka
Video credit: TNT Sports