Osaka beats Kasatkina to reach first Wimbledon fourth round
Naomi Osaka defeated Daria Kasatkina 6-1, 6-3 on Friday to reach the Wimbledon fourth round for the first time, dropping just four games in 65 minutes. The No. 14 seed completed a full set of second-week appearances at all four majors and extended her head-to-head over Kasatkina to 4-0 in their first meeting on grass.
Key Takeaways
- Osaka beat Kasatkina 6-1, 6-3 in 65 minutes to reach her first Wimbledon fourth round.
- She dropped only four games and is now 4-0 lifetime against Kasatkina, winning sets 8-1 overall.
- Osaka became the 31st currently active player with a fourth-round appearance at every major.
- Kasatkina briefly leveled the second set at 3-3 before Osaka broke again and closed out the match.
- Osaka next faces the winner of Aryna Sabalenka versus Jelena Ostapenko in the round of 16.
Why did Naomi Osaka beat Daria Kasatkina so decisively?
Osaka brought the firepower that pre-tournament analysts expected. According to Sports Illustrated, Osaka entered as a -500 favorite after beating Elsa Jacquemot and Anastasia Gasanova in straight sets through the first two rounds.
The four-time Grand Slam champion raced to a 6-1, 3-1 lead. She dropped just five points on serve in the opening set and leaned on the power that has defined her hard-court titles. Kasatkina, a former world No. 8 and 2018 Wimbledon quarterfinalist, could not find a sustained answer early.
This was their first meeting on grass between two 1997-born rivals. Osaka now leads the head-to-head 4-0 and has taken eight of nine sets against Kasatkina, following the same pattern she set on hard and clay courts.
What does this Wimbledon run mean for Osaka's career?
For years, grass was the surface where Osaka struggled most at the All England Club. She had reached the third round at Wimbledon last year but had never advanced to the second week until Friday.
The win gives her a fourth-round berth at every major at least once, nine times in total across her career. The WTA notes she is the 31st currently active player to complete that career set, with three Australian Open runs (including two titles), one Roland Garros, one Wimbledon, and four US Open trips (including two titles).
It also caps a broader 2026 surge. Osaka reached her first Roland Garros fourth round last month and reached the Bad Homburg final before Wimbledon, suggesting her game is translating beyond hard courts.
How did Kasatkina fight back before Osaka pulled away?
Kasatkina did not go quietly once the second set tightened. With Osaka serving for a commanding lead, Kasatkina began extending rallies and leaning on her forehand, even producing one terrific lob to shift momentum.
She leveled the set at 3-3 and briefly put the 14th seed under pressure. Osaka, however, survived a three-deuce battle to break for 4-3 and never looked back, cruising to victory from there.
Kasatkina had reached the second week at every major herself after her 2025 Australian Open fourth round, but Osaka's pace and serving proved too much on Friday. For more offbeat sports headlines from around the world, browse our Bizarre News & Florida Man section.
Who will Osaka face in the Wimbledon fourth round?
Osaka's reward is a daunting test in the round of 16. She will meet the winner of the third-round clash between world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko.
After years of early Wimbledon exits, Osaka finally has a fourth-round berth at SW19 and a chance to keep building on the best grass-court stretch of her career.