When Aryna Sabalenka faced Naomi Osaka for the first time in eight years in March in Indian Wells, she said that she hoped that the two Grand Slam champions would play “many more times” after a tight two-set win.
Three times in three months might’ve been beyond Sabalenka’s expectations. But the frequency of such a marquee match-up will likely matter little to the world No.1, as long as she keeps winning them.
The top seed at Roland-Garros completed the roster of women’s quarterfinalists with her third win against Osaka this year – a high-quality 7-5, 6-3 tilt on Court Philippe-Chatrier on Monday night.
A nervy start by Sabalenka – she trailed 2-0 – gave way to a fantastic finish in just under an hour-and-a-half.
She never faced a break point for the rest of the match, and struck 12 aces and 39 winners.
It was a level of play necessary to top a game four-time Grand Slam champion in Osaka, who struck 20 winners and just 18 unforced errors of her own in a high-quality performance.
Sabalenka knew it, too, saying afterwards in her on-court interview that she’s been getting better with every match she’s playing in Paris.
“I am mostly happy with the way I served, and that I was able to put that pressure back on her,” she said, hailing Osaka as a “great player” and their “super-aggressive” tennis.
More to come…