Naomi Osaka reflected positively after her straight-sets win over Daria Kasatkina, 6-1, 6-3, in the third round of Wimbledon 2026. She credited her preparation with coach Thomas Drouet for helping her adapt to grass. “He challenges me a lot to think outside the box. Coming into this grass season, we were doing a lot of things on the hard court because where I trained they don’t have a grass court. It kind of made me understand grass court tennis a lot more,” Osaka explained. She admitted that in her younger years she was more stubborn about how to play on the surface, but now embraces its free-flowing nature.
Fashion and self-expression
Much of the press conference focused on Osaka’s outfits, which have drawn significant attention during the tournament. She welcomed the discussion. “I would actually prefer to talk about my clothes. It’s strange because I’ve been playing tennis for 20 years, but some days I don’t feel like an expert on it. If we were to talk about my outfit, I feel like I could keep going on and on. I find it really fun that people care and are doing deep dives into the fabric and the making of stories,” she said. Osaka added that fashion and tennis go hand in hand for her, allowing her to express herself beyond the court.
Facing tough opponents
Asked about a potential matchup with Aryna Sabalenka, Osaka acknowledged the challenge but expressed confidence. “I’ve been doing really well on grass this year and my confidence is pretty high. I know what my grass court tennis looks like, so it gives me a stable mindset going into the match no matter who I play,” she said. She noted that she has only lost to Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek in recent months, and views those matches as learning experiences.
Movement and recovery
Osaka also discussed her physical progress since returning to the tour after becoming a mother. She recalled a turning point last year. “The exact moment was when I lost in DC. I remember thinking, I lost this match, but I feel like I could move again. After that I did pretty well in Montreal and the US Open, so I felt a significant click. It took way longer than I thought, but ever since then I felt like I’ve been moving okay,” she explained.
Serving as a weapon
Reflecting on her development, Osaka described how her serve became a key part of her game. “I specifically remember being around 15. I decided to hit my serve as hard as I could and it went in, it was an ace. I thought if I could just keep doing this, it’d be a really solid addition to my game,” she recalled. She continues to refine her serve with her coach, aiming for consistency in her toss and technique.
Osaka’s mix of confidence, creativity, and resilience has carried her into the second week of Wimbledon, where she remains a strong contender both on the court and as a personality shaping the sport’s culture.
Daria Kasatkina in 2026
Currently the world no.65, Kasatkina played her last match on the 3rd of July when she was defeated by world no.14 Naomi Osaka 6-1 6-3 in the 3rd round in Wimbledon (draw).
This season Kasatkina achieved an overall 17-15 record. Kasatkina has won 1 title in the La Bisbal D’Emporda.
WTA Wimbledon - Naomi Osaka's projected path
Osaka in Wimbledon, ranking, and results in 2026
Ranked no.14, Naomi achieved a 20-7 match record in 2026. Osaka is participating in Wimbledon where she bested the world no.80 Elsa Jacquemot 6-1 7-5, the world no.225 Anastasia Gasanova 6-3 6-2 and the world no.65 Daria Kasatkina 6-1 6-3.
The Japanese won 7 titles in her career: all of them conquered on hard courts. (See the list of her titles)
Daria Kasatkina and Naomi Osaka clashed against each other 4 times. Their current record is 4-0 for Osaka.
