World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka defeated 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko in straight sets at Wimbledon. Sabalenka’s 6-4, 6-4 victory in one hour and 33 minutes propelled her into the fourth round, keeping her hopes alive for a first title at the All-England Club.
Sabalenka, a three-time Wimbledon semifinalist, showcased her versatility in the match against Ostapenko. With a 6-4, 6-4 win, she set up a highly anticipated fourth-round clash with former world No.1 Naomi Osaka. Osaka, the No. 14 seed, secured her spot in the fourth round by defeating Daria Kasatkina 6-1, 6-3 in just 65 minutes.
Naomi Osaka’s win marked her completion of a career set of Grand Slam second-week appearances. She has now reached the fourth round at each major tournament at least once, totaling nine times across the Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon, and the US Open. Osaka’s victory over Kasatkina further solidified her dominance, extending her head-to-head lead to 4-0 and 8-1 in sets against the Russian player.
Earlier, Aryna Sabalenka overcame a tough challenge from American McCartney Kessler to advance to the third round. Despite being down 5-2 in the second set, Sabalenka fought back and saved four set points to secure a 6-1, 7-6(9) victory. Meanwhile, Jelena Ostapenko displayed a strong performance by defeating Antonia Ruzic 6-2, 6-0 in just 66 minutes, showcasing an impressive 34 winners and only 10 unforced errors.
