Aryna Sabalenka has won her third consecutive match against four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka.
Sabalenka proved too strong for the Japanese star on Monday evening, winning 7-5, 6-3 on Court Philippe Chatrier.
Who is Aryna Sabalenka’s biggest threat for the Roland Garros title now?
Sabalenka and Osaka’s match was the first women’s singles match to be scheduled for the Roland Garros night session in almost three years.
Since the tournament brought in one-match night sessions in 2021, only five women’s singles matches have taken place during the night slot.
Sam Querrey, the former Wimbledon semi-finalist, has offered his thoughts on the decision to schedule Sabalenka and Osaka’s contest in the night session.
Sam Querrey says the matches that draw the biggest audience should be scheduled for the night session at Roland Garros
“My opinion on this is that there is a slate of matches, men’s and women’s, whoever the biggest names are – whoever you think is going to draw the biggest TV audience and sell the most tickets, put them on the night match,” Querrey said on the Nothing Major Show.
“Tonight that was Sabalenka and Osaka, it should be that simple.
“It’s tough when you have Sinner, Carlos, Novak, Roger and Rafa playing all these years. They are the biggest names, they are going to draw the most TV audience, they are going to get the night match.
“That’s your prime time match. It’s so obvious, is it not?”
Steve Johnson, the former world number 21 and winner of multiple ATP Tour events, then referenced Serena Williams, who is set to make her return to the Tour at the Queen’s Club Championships later this month.
“Somebody who announced their comeback today would be the night match if she was playing!” said Johnson.
How excited are you to watch Serena Williams play on the WTA Tour once again? 🐐
John Isner, a former Miami Open champion, then offered his assessment on Sabalenka and Osaka’s contest.
“It’s been a good match,” he said. “I think the decision to put them on has been warranted.
“Let’s face it, the men’s event has carried this tournament so far.”
Querrey [pictured below] then concluded: “The women could carry the tournament these next few days because there’s some men’s matches which, quite frankly, with the name recognition are not that exciting.”
After defeating Osaka, Sabalenka is set to play 25th seed Diana Shnaider in the Roland Garros quarter-finals.
Shnaider, from Russia, has performed superbly throughout the event, qualifying for the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam for the first time in her career.
The 22-year-old has beaten Renata Zarazúa, McCartney Kessler, Oleksandra Oliynykova and Madison Keys on her way to the last eight in Paris.
Wednesday’s quarter-final contest should be fascinating. After all, Sabalenka and Shnaider have never played each other previously on the WTA Tour.
Who could Aryna Sabalenka play in the Roland Garros semi-finals?
If Sabalenka defeats Shnaider in their first-ever meeting, she will play either Maja Chwalinska or Anna Kalinskaya in the Roland Garros semi-finals.
Chwalinska, a qualifier ranked 114th on the WTA Tour, has produced some magnificent tennis to defeat the likes of Qinwen Zheng and Maria Sakkari on her way to the last eight in Paris.
Aryna Sabalenka’s 2026 Roland Garros campaign so far
- First round: defeated Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-4, 6-2
- Second round: defeated Elsa Jacquemot 7-5, 6-2
- Third round: defeated Daria Kasatkina 6-0, 7-5
- Fourth round: defeated Naomi Osaka 7-5, 6-3
- Quarter-finals: Diana Shnaider
Meanwhile, Kalinskaya qualified for her first Grand Slam quarter-final after coming through a marathon contest against Anastasia Potapova.
Sabalenka has a 3-2 record against Kalinskaya. However, she was defeated in their last match-up at the 2024 Berlin Open.
Kalinskaya led 5-1 in the first set when Sabalenka retired from their quarter-final match due to shoulder pain.
As for Maja Chwalinska, Sabalenka has never played the Polish player before on the WTA Tour.
