Sabalenka storms past Osaka and into the last eight of the French Open

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sabalenka-aryna/vyhksgUB/"]Sabalenka[/a] produced an impressive display against a battling [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/osaka-naomi/MDM4BKiA/"]Osaka[/a] to win 7-5, 6-3 and reach the last eight for a 14th consecutive major tournament.[/p][p]The Belarusian is now the only Grand Slam champion left in either the men's or women's singles draws at Roland Garros.[/p][p][b]"I'm mostly happy with the way I served and I was able to keep all the pressure on her," [/b]said Sabalenka.[/p][p][b]"I didn't expect I would serve that great... I feel like I'm getting better and better with every match I play and overall I'm super happy with how I played today."[/b][/p][p]She made it three straight wins against Osaka this year, having lost their only previous meeting at the 2018 US Open.[/p][p]She will next take on Russian [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/shnaider-diana/028BdVOj/"]Diana Shnaider[/a] as she continues her bid for a maiden French Open crown and to banish the memories of her painful final defeat last year by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gauff-coco/f5BXmEH6/"]Coco Gauff[/a].[/p][p]Japanese star Osaka, again sporting the sequined gold dress she likened to the Eiffel Tower at night, has to make do with her best-ever run in Paris, ending in the last 16.[/p][p]It was the first women's match to feature in the French Open night session since 2023, after a run of 32 consecutive men's ties which drew repeated criticism of tournament organisers.[/p][embed guid="1bfd940c-8da8-40e0-bd2a-41e08659a2ff" url="https://x.com/rolandgarros/status/2061538856873136620" social-type="twitter" /][p]The players traded early breaks in a power-packed opening, before Sabalenka levelled the first set at 2-2 with a service hold featuring three aces, the last with a second serve.[/p][p]The set stayed on serve until the 11th game, when Sabalenka made her move with a blistering backhand winner to bring up two break points, with Osaka netting on the first.[/p][p]The top seed closed it out in style with a ruthless hold to love.[/p][p]Osaka gamely managed to hang onto her serve early in the second set, staving off a break point in a marathon game to lead 3-2.[/p][p]Sabalenka had only dropped six points in her previous seven service games, but was pushed hard by Osaka in game six before eventually holding with a clever drop-shot.[/p][p]That proved to be a crucial moment, as Osaka's resistance was finally broken in the next game, a brilliant low volley at the net helping Sabalenka put one foot into the quarters.[/p][p]An Osaka double-fault brought up match point two games later, and Sabalenka sealed victory with a brutal return.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/osaka-n-MDM4BKiA/sabalenka-a-vyhksgUB/?mid=SYyF1SQH"]Catch up on the match here.[/a][/b][/p]