Top seed Sabalenka beaten at Wimbledon by inspired Osaka

LONDON —Women's top seed Aryna Sabalenka was knocked out in the fourth round of Wimbledon by an inspired Naomi Osaka on Sunday with the Japanese player blazing to a 6-2 7-6(2) win on Centre Court.

With eight Grand Slam titles between them, the blockbuster duel topped the Day Seven bill but it ended up lacking the expected fireworks as 14th seed Osaka dominated.

Sabalenka was left screaming in frustration during a 32-minute opening set as her power game misfired.

The second set was more like the contest the packed crowd were anticipating but Osaka stayed cool in the tiebreak to claim her biggest win since returning to the Tour following her 2023 maternity break. —Reuters