Naomi Osaka enjoyed her best-ever run at Roland Garros after reaching the fourth round, where she was beaten by Aryna Sabalenka.
Osaka and Sabalenka played in the night session in the French capital, where the world number one triumphed 7-5, 6-3.
After knocking out her fellow four-time Grand Slam winner, Sabalenka now turns her attention to a Roland Garros quarterfinal clash with Russian youngster Diana Shnaider.
It was a high-quality meeting between two WTA superstars, although tennis legend Chris Evert has pinpointed where Osaka must improve going forward to secure further career success.
What has been the best WTA match of 2026?
Let us know in the comments!
Chris Evert thinks Naomi Osaka can improve at the net after Roland Garros exit
Seven-time Roland Garros champion Evert said live on TNT Sports: “I thought Naomi played terrific and it was a high-quality match.
“I think Naomi is playing very close to when she was winning Slams.
“I think that the competition is different now, the level is higher.
“The only place is when she approaches the net, when you force her in, she is like a fish out of water, she still doesn’t know how to hit those volleys and that is what players are capitalising on that weakness.
“But as far as her first serve and her placement, her movement has improved, she has room for improvement and is still going to go up.”
Osaka, a former world number one, has claimed two titles at the Australian Open and two titles at the US Open, all of which arrived between 2018 and 2021.
Who is your favorite player on the WTA Tour right now?
Aryna Sabalenka powers into 14th successive Grand Slam quarterfinal
Getting a positive result against the top seed was always going to be a tough ask of Osaka, who certainly troubled her opponent at times.
But after winning their first WTA meeting at the 2018 US Open, she now trails the Belarusian 3-1 in their head-to-head, with all three of Sabalenka’s wins coming in 2026.
| Aryna Sabalenka | Naomi Osaka | |
| 72.7% 40/55 |
Total service points won | 53.3% 40/75 |
| 46.7% 35/75 |
Total return points won | 27.3% 15/55 |
| 57.7% 75/130 |
Total points won | 42.3% 55/130 |
The world number one is now into her 14th successive Grand Slam quarterfinal, with her next opponent Shnaider into her first-ever.
Meanwhile, Osaka will turn her focus to the WTA grass-court swing, having claimed impressive wins over Laura Siegemund, Donna Vekic and Iva Jovic on the Parisian clay before falling to Sabalenka.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
