London, 06 July (H.S.): Japan's star tennis player Naomi Osaka produced one of the biggest upsets of Wimbledon 2026 on Sunday by defeating world No. 1 and top seed Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets, 6-2, 7-6 (7-2), to reach the women's singles quarter-finals for the first time in her career.

The highly anticipated Centre Court clash featured two players who have won a combined eight Grand Slam singles titles, raising expectations of a thrilling contest. However, the 14th-seeded Osaka dominated from the outset and never allowed Sabalenka to find her rhythm.

Sabalenka struggled throughout the opening set as a series of unforced errors disrupted her game. The Belarusian was repeatedly seen expressing her frustration on court as Osaka wrapped up the first set 6-2 in just 32 minutes.

The second set proved to be much more competitive, with both players producing high-quality tennis and keeping the spectators engrossed. However, Osaka maintained her composure in the tie-break, winning it 7-2 to seal the match in straight sets.

The victory marks a significant milestone for Osaka. Since returning to the WTA Tour following maternity leave in 2023, it is regarded as her biggest win to date. She will now compete in the Wimbledon quarter-finals for the first time in her career.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar