Aryna Sabalenka defeated Naomi Osaka 7-5, 6-3 in the first women's night match at Roland Garros since 2023, advancing to the French Open quarter-finals. The match, played on Monday evening, marked a return of women's singles to the prestigious night session after organisers faced sustained criticism for excluding women.
Sabalenka, the world No 1, showcased her versatility by mixing powerful groundstrokes with drop shots and net play, exposing Osaka's weaknesses in forward movement and net game. The Belarusian has now reached the quarter-finals of her last 14 Grand Slam tournaments and will face 25th seed Diana Shnaider next.
Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, struggled to maintain her early dominance after leading in the opening set. Despite the loss, the Japanese player expressed optimism about her progress, saying she focuses on improvement rather than results. This was her first time reaching the second week at Roland Garros.
Sabalenka praised the decision to schedule the women's match as the night feature, hoping it opens the door for more such opportunities. Osaka also drew attention with her outfit, a floor-length translucent skirt and shimmering gold dress, but her tennis remained the focus as she played quality tennis before Sabalenka's relentless pressure proved decisive.
