Aryna Sabalenka’s quest for a maiden Wimbledon title at this year’s Championships came to an end after losing to Naomi Osaka in the fourth round.
Osaka handed Sabalenka her first straight-sets defeat at a Grand Slam since the 2020 US Open, winning 6-2, 7-6.
The Japanese star, who had never made it past the third round at Wimbledon prior to this campaign, will face 10th seed Karolina Muchova in the quarterfinals.
Who will be ranked higher by the end of 2026 – Elena Rybakina or Aryna Sabalenka?
With Elena Rybakina’s third-round exit, Sabalenka will keep her place as the world number one despite the loss.
But the Belarusian admitted herself after the match that she was not competing like the best player on the WTA Tour against Osaka.
Aryna Sabalenka reacts immediately after exiting Wimbledon
“I tried my best. I was trying to adjust as best as possible,” said Sabalenka in her post match press conference.
“I honestly feel like I left everything today. I don’t know. For some reason, I didn’t have level at all.
“Like, I was overpowered, maybe couple times got over-emotional, but I was trying to stay in control. Yeah, I feel like sometimes there is days like that. You just have to say congrats and leave.”
Asked if she still feels like the number one player in the world, the 28-year-old replied: “Oh, this question, guys.
Who is your favorite player on the WTA Tour right now?
“I mean, let’s just look at the ranking. Right now I’m world number one. Level-wise, today I wasn’t world number one. Yesterday I was world number one.
“I feel like I just, you know, I don’t even want to think about ranking at this point. I just want to go, get completely drunk, forget about tennis, and try to get in better shape,” she said, smiling.
“I cannot be satisfied with anything today. But I have to say that there were a couple times where I could just completely lose it.
“But I was respectful to the grass and to the next players who are going to play there, so I hold myself really good.”
Aryna Sabalenka discusses losing the second-set tiebreak
Heading into the match with Osaka, Sabalenka had the longest winning streak in Grand Slam tiebreaks in the Open Era (men and women), with 21 victorious shootouts in a row.
That streak came to an end against Osaka, who won the second-set tiebreak fairly comfortably, 7-2.
“I wasn’t really thinking about my record at all,” said Sabalenka. “I was just trying to focus point by point.
“As I said, what could I do if the person is acing and hitting the lines, just going for her shots without any fear?
“I was the one who was just trying to kind of, like, find my rhythm. Two extremes. I was really battling myself. She was just going for it. Didn’t happen today. Hopefully will happen tomorrow.”
Sabalenka will now set her sights on the last major of the season, the US Open, where she is the defending champion.
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