Naomi Osaka advanced to the fourth round at Wimbledon for the first time in her career with a commanding 6-1, 6-3 victory over Daria Kasatkina on Friday. The Japanese star had previously never progressed beyond the third round in her five main-draw appearances at the All England Club. Osaka completed the win in just 65 minutes on Court One, setting up a last-16 match against world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka.

Osaka expressed satisfaction at finally making a breakthrough on the grass courts where she had previously struggled. “I’m really happy. In my career I’d never won on this court. I’m just glad to have made a really good memory here,” she said. She credited her recent experience playing on grass for the boost in confidence and hopes to continue advancing in the tournament.

In addition to her on-court performance, Osaka has attracted attention at Wimbledon for her distinctive fashion choices. Before facing Kasatkina, she wore an all-white layered Japanese ceremonial-style kimono designed by Tokyo-based Hana Yagi. The outfit, adorned with cherry blossoms, continues Osaka’s tradition of incorporating elements of her Japanese heritage into her pre-match attire, which has included a wedding dress-inspired train at earlier rounds as well as thematic costumes at other Grand Slam events this year.

Sabalenka, meanwhile, secured her place in the fourth round with a straight-sets 6-4, 6-4 win over former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko on Saturday. The Belarusian, who holds a 3-1 head-to-head record against Osaka, is aiming for her first Wimbledon title and a 15th consecutive Grand Slam quarter-final appearance. She acknowledged the challenge ahead against Osaka, describing it as a “very powerful match” and stated she was prepared to “fight and do whatever it takes” to progress.

Sabalenka has reached the Wimbledon semi-finals in each of her last three visits but has yet to advance further. The 28-year-old met Osaka most recently at the French Open last month, where she won in straight sets before being upset in the quarter-finals by Diana Shnaider. Ostapenko offered some resistance in Saturday’s match but ultimately could not match Sabalenka’s consistent aggression.

Other notable results at Wimbledon included Jessica Pegula’s dominant 6-1, 6-3 win over Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, and Coco Gauff’s hard-fought three-set victory against fellow American Claire Liu.

Osaka and Sabalenka are scheduled to meet on Sunday, with both players seeking to build momentum as they aim to go deeper into the tournament.