Naomi Osaka defeated Australia's Daria Kasatkina 6-1, 6-3 on No. 1 Court at Wimbledon on Friday, July 3, 2026, to storm into the fourth round at the All England Club for the first time in her career. The brutal 65-minute demolition job officially brings an end to Australia's hopes in the women's singles draw. With this commanding victory, Osaka successfully completes her career set of Grand Slam second-week appearances.

The Full Story

The highly anticipated clash on No. 1 Court began with Naomi Osaka making a characteristically bold entrance, swapping out her previous Kill Bill-inspired kimono for a flowing, full-length, blossom-patterned coat. Once the play commenced, the 28-year-old Japanese superstar immediately backed up her pre-match style with a display of supreme tennis power. She capitalised early when Kasatkina squandered a 40-15 lead in the opening game, allowing Osaka to blast a sensational backhand winner and break serve immediately.

Osaka dropped a mere five points on serve during a utterly dominant opening set, racing to a double-break advantage and sealing it in just 28 minutes. Kasatkina, who now holds Australian nationality, threw everything she had at the former world number one. The Russia-born tactical player mixed up her game with slices, looping topspin, and crafty drop shots in an attempt to disrupt the rhythm of her opponent. The strategy briefly bore fruit in the second set, allowing Kasatkina to claw her way back from an early break to level the score at 3-3.

However, Osaka quickly elevated her intensity to kill off the mounting challenge. She dug deep through a tense, three-deuce battle to break Kasatkina's serve once more for a 4-3 lead, before reeling off the final three games of the match. The flawless performance culminated in a straight-sets triumph, expanding Osaka's perfect head-to-head record against her 1997-born rival to 4-0.

Central Figures

• Naomi Osaka: The four-time Grand Slam champion and former world number one who has reached the Wimbledon fourth round for the first time.
• Daria Kasatkina: The Australian number two seed and former world number eight who became the last Australian woman to exit the singles draw.
• Tomasz Wiktorowski: Osaka's current coach, who has been credited with altering her approach to grass-court movement and tactical training drills.

The Data

Osaka's absolute dominance on the grass was reflected clearly in the match statistics:

• 65 minutes: The total match duration of the third-round encounter.
• 25 winners: Rifled by Osaka from the baseline to overwhelm Kasatkina's defenses.
• 81%: The percentage of points won by Osaka behind her formidable first serve.
• 5 to 1: The definitive ace count in favour of the Japanese star.

What This Means

This breakthrough victory represents a milestone for Osaka, who has now made the fourth round at least once at all four major tournaments, becoming the 31st currently active player to achieve the feat. It is just the third time she has reached the second week of a grand slam since lifting the Australian Open title in 2021, showing that she is rediscovering the supreme form that made her a global sporting icon before her maternity break. For tennis fans in Australia, the result leaves Alex de Minaur as the solitary local hope remaining across the singles draws at SW19.

Away from the tactical battles on court, Osaka revealed she is in a relaxed mindset, sharing a lighthearted update with the crowd about her daughter Shai's third birthday. "We tried to take her to the park, but then she needed to be in time out, so we are going to try to take her today," Osaka smiled. "She blew out her candles and made a wish so I hope her wish is to behave better."

What to Expect

Having reached uncharted territory on the London grass, Osaka moves on to a highly anticipated fourth-round blockbuster. She will face either the top-seeded four-time grand slam champion Aryna Sabalenka or former French Open winner Jelena Ostapenko. Meanwhile, Australia's final singles hope, Alex de Minaur, will try to keep the local flag flying when he meets American Zachary Svajda in his third-round clash on Saturday.

FAQ

How many times has Naomi Osaka reached the second week at Wimbledon?

This is the first time in Naomi Osaka's career that she has progressed to the fourth round (the second week) at Wimbledon, completing her career set of round-of-16 appearances across all four Grand Slam events.

Who is Naomi Osaka's coach for the grass-court season?

Osaka is currently working with coach Tomasz Wiktorowski, whom she credits with helping her think outside the box and master a more free-flowing style specifically tailored to grass courts.

Are there any Australian women left in the Wimbledon singles draw?

No. Following Daria Kasatkina's straight-sets defeat to Naomi Osaka, she became the final Australian woman to exit the singles tournament at the All England Club this year.

What is Naomi Osaka's head-to-head record against Daria Kasatkina?

With her victory on No. 1 Court, Naomi Osaka now leads her career head-to-head record against Daria Kasatkina 4-0, having won eight of the nine sets they have contested.