Sabalenka eliminated in Wimbledon as top seed in round of 16 by Osaka

Sabalenka's season of disappointments

In the press conference after the defeat, Sabalenka was frustrated. "I just want to leave, get really drunk, forget about tennis and try to get into better shape," the Belarusian said. Adding: "I messed it up this year. Next year I will try to do it better."

Her serve was a problem for Sabalenka against Osaka from the very beginning. The Japanese player, a former world No. 1, returned powerfully and barely allowed the top-seeded player to find any rhythm. Osaka, by contrast, remains in the Wimbledon title race and faces Karolina Muchova in the quarterfinals.

Osaka faces Muchova in the quarterfinals

The Czech player prevailed over her compatriot Barbora Krejcikova 7-5, 5-7, 6-3. Muchova is thus confirmed as Osaka's next opponent. Osaka had previously drawn attention at earlier Grand Slam events with unusual outfits, and in the duel with Sabalenka too she stepped onto the court in a kimono.

Alongside Osaka, Jessica Pegula has also secured her place in the quarterfinals. The American, after a slow start, won an all-American duel against the No. 16-seeded Iva Jovic 4-6, 6-3, 6-1. Pegula is thus also in the quarterfinals as the second American player.

Pegula faces Gauff or Bencic

In the next round, Pegula will take on the winner of the duel between Coco Gauff (USA/7) and Belinda Bencic (SUI/11). That means several Americans are in the last eight, underlining the depth of American women's tennis at Wimbledon.

Sabalenka still has a chance of another Grand Slam title this year: she competes at the US Open as defending champion. Whether she can return to top form there after the disappointing performances in Melbourne, Paris and London remains to be seen.

US Open as last chance this year

The loss to Osaka also means that Sabalenka continues to wait for her first Wimbledon final. The London tournament thus remains the only Grand Slam at which the Belarusian has never reached the final.

Osaka, by contrast, could make the decisive step back to the very top of the game at Wimbledon. By reaching the quarterfinals she has already shown that she has returned in top form — and the duel with Muchova promises to be a high-class quarterfinal.