Top seed Aryna Sabalenka continued her strong run at the 2026 French Open by defeating Naomi Osaka 7-5, 6-3 in the fourth round on Monday. The victory secured Sabalenka a place in the quarterfinals and kept her hopes alive of winning her first title at the French Open.
The Belarusian star was runner-up at Roland Garros last year after losing to Coco Gauff in the final. This season, she is aiming to go one step further and lift the trophy.
First Women’s Night Match in Three Years Draws Attention
The match also attracted attention because it was the first women’s night-session contest at Roland Garros in three years.
Osaka made a stylish entrance, wearing a gold bomber jacket over a gold sequin dress with a dramatic train. Meanwhile, Sabalenka opted for a more traditional tennis outfit, featuring a black dress with red detailing.
The contest between two four-time Grand Slam champions lived up to expectations. However, Sabalenka’s power from the baseline proved too much for Osaka to handle.
Sabalenka Dominates Key Moments
Although the opening set remained competitive, Sabalenka raised her level during crucial points. She eventually took the first set 7-5 before gaining control of the match in the second.
The world No. 1 sealed victory with a stunning forehand return winner on match point. Osaka managed to get her racket on the ball but could not keep the rally alive.
The match lasted just 1 hour and 27 minutes, highlighting Sabalenka’s efficiency and dominance.
With the win, Sabalenka improved her career head-to-head record against Osaka to 3-1.
Sabalenka Calls for More Women’s Night Matches
After the match, Sabalenka addressed the ongoing discussion about the lack of women’s night matches at Roland Garros.
Tournament organizers have faced criticism for scheduling very few women’s matches in the prime-time evening slot. Officials have argued that women’s best-of-three-set matches are generally shorter than men’s best-of-five contests.
Sabalenka suggested that the atmosphere and interest surrounding her match with Osaka should encourage organizers to schedule more women’s night-session matches in the future.
Diana Shnaider Awaits in the Quarterfinals
Sabalenka will next face Diana Shnaider in the quarterfinals.
Shnaider booked her place in the last eight after defeating Madison Keys 6-3, 3-6, 6-0. The result ended American hopes in the women’s singles draw, as Keys was the last remaining U.S. player in contention.
Surprise Runs Continue at Roland Garros
Elsewhere, Maja Chwalinska continued her remarkable tournament run by beating Diane Parry 6-3, 6-2.
Ranked No. 114 in the world, Chwalinska had never advanced beyond the second round of a Grand Slam before this year’s French Open. Her achievement is even more impressive because she came through three qualifying rounds to reach the main draw.
Chwalinska will meet Anna Kalinskaya in the quarterfinals.
Kalinskaya earned her spot after a hard-fought 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (10-7) victory over Anastasia Potapova.
Following the match, Kalinskaya admitted she would not have believed she could reach the quarterfinals if someone had told her two weeks ago.
Tournament Opens Up After Early Exits
The women’s draw at Roland Garros has seen several major surprises. Defending champion Coco Gauff, four-time champion Iga Swiatek, and world No. 2 Elena Rybakina have all been eliminated.
As a result, Sabalenka now appears to be one of the strongest contenders for the title. With her powerful form and growing confidence, the top seed is edging closer to capturing her first French Open crown.