Naomi Osaka overpowers Aryna Sabalenka to reach the Wimbledon quarterfinals
LONDON: When power meets power, getting in the first blow can sometimes be the key. In a matchup of two of the hardest hitters on tour, that was Naomi Osaka’s strategy against top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka in the most highly awaited matchup of Wimbledon so far this year. Sabalenka had beaten Osaka in all three of their previous matches this year — including at the same stage of the French Open last month. “On the clay courts I felt like she was pushing me back a lot. I just tried to do it to her first,” Osaka said. The tactics worked, and Osaka outslugged Sabalenka 6-2, 7-6 (2) to reach the quarterfinals at the All England Club for the first time on Sunday. Osaka’s pace and flat groundstrokes overwhelmed Sabalenka. “Obviously we’re big ball strikers.
