Naomi Osaka reacts during her third-round Wimbledon clash against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova on Court Two.
Naomi Osaka’s dream of reaching the fourth round at Wimbledon for the first time slipped through her fingers on Friday, as world number 50 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova mounted a gritty comeback to oust the Japanese star 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.
Things started promisingly for Osaka, who came out firing on Court Two, surging to a 4-1 lead and sealing the first set with an ace. But the Russian found her rhythm in the second, smacking a forehand winner to level the match. Osaka briefly left the court to regroup but was broken early in the decider. Though she clawed back to 3-3, Pavlyuchenkova held her nerve to close it out.
Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, hasn’t gone past the third round at Wimbledon in five attempts. Since her 2021 Australian Open win, the former world number one has now failed to reach the last 16 in 13 consecutive majors.
Returning this season after giving birth last July, Osaka admitted earlier in the week that grass has long intimidated her. She described how fear used to paralyse her game but said she was now trying to embrace the surface. That hope was dashed by Pavlyuchenkova, who credited her focus and mental strength for turning the match around.
In other women’s action, American sixth seed Madison Keys was sent packing by Laura Siegemund, Sonay Kartal delivered the performance of her life to advance, and lucky loser Solana Sierra continued her historic run.
Aryna Sabalenka narrowly escaped defeat, edging past home favourite Emma Raducanu in a Centre Court thriller.
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