On Monday night at Roland Garros, top-ranked women’s singles star Aryna Sabalenka delivered a powerhouse performance to defeat four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka in straight sets, securing her spot in the 2024 French Open quarter-finals and extending an extraordinary streak of deep major tournament runs. The world number one’s 7-5, 6-3 victory not only marked her fourth consecutive quarter-final appearance at the clay-court major, but also her 14th straight advancement to the last eight of any Grand Slam — a feat no other remaining singles player at this year’s tournament can match. In fact, Sabalenka now stands as the only former Grand Slam champion left in both the men’s and women’s singles draws, after a wave of unexpected upsets swept through the early rounds.
Sabalenka’s aggressive game was on full display throughout the clash, firing 39 winners and 12 aces past a resilient Osaka who pushed her to tight service games on multiple occasions. The opening set set the tone for the tight contest: the two power hitters traded breaks in the early going before Sabalenka leveled at 2-2 with a hold that included three aces, the third coming on a powerful second serve. The set remained on serve until the 11th game, when Sabalenka broke through with a blistering backhand winner that earned her two break points, converting on the first after Osaka found the net. She closed out the set with a ruthless love hold to take the lead.
In the second set, Osaka fought hard to stay in the match, saving a break point in a marathon sixth game to hold a 3-2 lead. But Sabalenka, who had dropped only six points across her previous seven service games, responded with a clever drop shot to hold serve in a grueling game that proved pivotal. In the very next game, a brilliant low volley at the net broke Osaka’s serve, shifting all momentum to the top seed. Two games later, an Osaka double fault set up match point, and Sabalenka sealed the win with a blistering return.
The Monday night clash carried extra significance beyond tournament advancement: it was the first women’s match scheduled for the French Open’s prime-time night session since 2023, ending a streak of 32 consecutive men’s night matches that drew widespread criticism from players and fans over unequal treatment. Both Sabalenka and Osaka embraced the moment, with Sabalenka — who has previously spoken out in favor of equal scheduling for women — saying she hopes the match opens the door for more women’s night sessions in future tournaments. “I hope that this is the beginning, today’s match. It’s like we open up that door for woman night sessions,” she said after the win.
For Sabalenka, the victory keeps alive her bid for a maiden French Open title, a chance to avenge her painful 2023 final defeat to Coco Gauff. She will next face Russian rising star Diana Shnaider for a spot in the semi-finals. Reflecting on the wave of upsets that cleared her path to this point, Sabalenka said she has remained focused on her own game regardless of results elsewhere. “I was able to kind of separate myself from what’s going on this year at the Roland Garros,” she said. “I have been around. Anything can happen. That’s tennis. My mindset, it’s basically that I’m ready to do whatever it takes to get this beautiful trophy.”
For Osaka, the result marks the best deep run of her career at the French Open, ending her tournament in the round of 16. The 28-year-old Japanese star, who once again competed in her iconic sequined gold dress she has compared to the Eiffel Tower at night, showed a new sense of perspective post-match, noting how her approach to the sport has matured. “If I lost this match when I was younger, I’d shut myself in my room or whatever,” she said. “But now I feel like obviously I love tennis, and I’m trying my best to do everything to be the best player I can. But… it’s kind of like a clock in/clock out type of thing. I’m excited to go home and see my daughter.” She added that she found playing the historic night match a fun experience, calling it “really cool” to share the spotlight with Sabalenka.