Naomi Osaka pulled off a stunning upset at Wimbledon on 8 July 2026, beating world No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 in the fourth round. After the match, Osaka credited her mother’s cooking for the fresh mindset that carried her through.
How did Naomi Osaka beat Aryna Sabalenka?
Osaka came out firing. She broke Sabalenka early in the first set, holding serve with a mix of heavy groundstrokes and sharp net play. The Japanese star took the opener 6-4 in 38 minutes.
Sabalenka fought back in the second. The Belarusian’s power game clicked — she blasted 12 winners and leveled the match with a 6-3 win. The crowd on Centre Court sensed a shift.
But Osaka didn’t crack. In the deciding set, she saved three break points at 4-4, then broke Sabalenka at 6-5 with a forehand winner down the line. She closed it out on her first match point.
Why did Osaka credit her mom’s cooking?
After the win, Osaka told reporters her mother, Tamaki Osaka, had been sending her homemade Japanese meals during the tournament. “It sounds small, but it changed everything,” Osaka said. “I felt grounded. I wasn’t reaching for junk food after practice.”
Osaka said the comfort food helped her mental approach. “I’ve been trying to find that calm on court. Eating her food reminded me of home, of why I play. It took the pressure off.”
The four-time Grand Slam champion has spoken openly about mental health struggles in the past. This new routine, she said, is part of a broader effort to stay balanced.
What does this mean for Osaka’s Wimbledon run?
This is Osaka’s deepest run at Wimbledon since 2018. She reached the third round last year but lost in straight sets. Now she’s into the quarterfinals for the first time since 2019.
Her next opponent is No. 5 seed Elena Rybakina, the 2022 champion. Rybakina beat Osaka in a tight three-setter at the Australian Open earlier this year. Osaka will need that same calm mindset to advance.
Osaka’s serve looked sharp against Sabalenka. She landed 68 percent of first serves and won 78 percent of those points. If she maintains that level, she could make a real push for the title.
What’s next for Naomi Osaka?
The quarterfinal against Rybakina is scheduled for 10 July. Osaka leads their head-to-head 3-2, but Rybakina has won the last two meetings. Both players favor aggressive baseline tennis.
Osaka’s ranking, currently No. 9, could jump into the top five with a deep run. She’s also chasing her first Wimbledon semifinal. The last time she reached a Grand Slam semifinal was the 2021 Australian Open, where she won the title.
For now, Osaka is taking it one match at a time. “I’m just grateful to be here,” she said. “And I’m going to keep eating my mom’s food.”