sports
Sabalenka powers past Osaka in first women’s night match at French Open since 2023
Three years after the Roland Garros organisers last declared a women’s match worthy of being called the best of the day in Paris, the total collapse of one half of the men’s draw and a fourth round between two of the three most successful active women’s players not named Williams finally allowed women to return to centre stage.
TL;DR
- Aryna Sabalenka defeated Naomi Osaka in the French Open fourth round with a score of 7-5, 6-3.
- This match was the first women's match to be the marquee night session at Roland Garros since 2023.
- Sabalenka displayed a well-rounded game, complementing her baseline power with drop shots and effective net play.
- Osaka, while showing progress and fighting hard, was noted to be uncomfortable at the net and had less variation in her game compared to Sabalenka.
- Sabalenka has reached the quarter-finals of her last 14 tournaments and will face Diana Shnaider next.
- The inclusion of the women's match in the night session was seen as a positive step by players for increased visibility and future consideration.