Naomi Osaka is set to play against Aryna Sabalenka in the fourth round of the 2026 French Open on June 1. Osaka will face the world No. 1 in the primetime slot, marking the first women’s night match at Roland Garros in three years.
What's at Stake for Naomi Osaka?
Osaka is 1-2 against Sabalenka and is playing in the fourth round in Paris for the first time in her career. She defeated Iva Jovic in a marathon 7-6(5), 6-7(3), 6-4 victory to advance.
Osaka played down her excitement over finally getting an evening slot, stating she's used to not playing night matches at Roland Garros. She told reporters, “I’m so used to not playing night matches here and playing night matches in the US Open or something like that that I don’t even associate this tournament with night matches.”
Balancing Motherhood and Tennis
Naomi Osaka's daughter, Shai, is old enough to travel with her mom to tournaments. Shai turned three this summer and has been to the Madrid Open with Osaka. Osaka said, “I was able to go home, honestly, pretty much be a mum,” and enjoyed taking Shai to school and picking her up.
Osaka sparked early retirement rumors after her surprising opening match loss at the Miami Open in March. She stated, “I’m not going to stay on tour if I’m losing in the first round. I’d rather just be a great mom and be there for my daughter.” Osaka wants to win titles and be the best player she can, but not at the expense of time with her daughter.
Naomi Osaka's Priorities
Osaka wants to be the best mom she can, but sometimes feels like she knows what she has to do to become a really good player, and it’s very difficult. She said, “I hope I can play Madrid, Rome and then obviously the French Open. For me, like I said last year, I’m not going to stay on tour if I’m losing in the first round.”
Naomi Osaka is focused on her match against Sabalenka and her daughter Shai. She's looking forward to spending time with Shai and showing her the world. Osaka loves traveling with her daughter and exploring new places. Shai loves traveling, airports, and airplanes, making it a special experience for both of them.
The French Open match between Naomi Osaka and Aryna Sabalenka is scheduled for June 1. Osaka is ranked No. 16 and is looking to advance to the next round. The match will be a challenging one, but Osaka is ready to face Sabalenka and give it her all.