Key Takeaways
- Naomi Osaka advanced to the round of 16 at the China Open while top seeds Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka suffered early exits.
- Naomi Osaka explained she was not shocked by the upsets because both players endured long seasons and were returning after the US Open.
- The four-time major champion stated that lifting Grand Slam trophies holds greater importance in her career than holding the world number one ranking.
Fatigue and schedule factors behind Beijing upsets
Early surprises dominated the China Open draw as top-ranked Elena Rybakina and second seed Aryna Sabalenka both suffered unexpected defeats. Rybakina fell in her opening contest against Alina Charaeva, while Sabalenka was eliminated in the third round by Nikola Bartunkova. Former world number one Naomi Osaka, who successfully reached the last 16 with victories over Maria Timofeeva and Sara Bejlek, noted that deep tournament runs earlier in the year naturally catch up with elite competitors.
Reflecting on the challenges of maintaining form late in the campaign, Osaka explained that intense schedules inevitably lead to unexpected results. “I’m not really surprised because they had a really long season,” Osaka remarked when asked about the early departures of her fellow contenders, observing that players are managing significant fatigue as the tour heads toward its conclusion.
Major trophies take priority over the top ranking
Having previously held the top spot, Osaka also discussed the target that top-ranked players carry into every round. When assessing the relative significance of WTA rankings compared to major titles, she made it clear where her main focus has always been during her career.
“The Slams are definitely, in my opinion, more important,” Osaka stated, reiterating that holding silverware at the four biggest events means more to her than holding the world number one position, even though she values both accomplishments.
Osaka prepares for eighth clash with Muchova
Currently ranked 17th, Osaka is slated to take on seventh seed Karolina Muchova for a place in the quarterfinals. Muchova leads their head-to-head record 4-3 across their 7 previous meetings. The four-time major winner will seek to level that series as she continues her campaign in Beijing.
| Result | Year | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 2018 | US Open | Hard | Serena Williams | 6–2, 6–4 |
| Win | 2019 | Australian Open | Hard | Petra Kvitova | 7–6(7–2), 5–7, 6–4 |
| Win | 2020 | US Open | Hard | Victoria Azarenka | 1–6, 6–3, 6–3 |
| Win | 2021 | Australian Open | Hard | Jennifer Brady | 6–4, 6–3 |
WTA Beijing - Naomi Osaka's projected path
Osaka in Beijing, ranking, and results in 2026
Now ranked no.17, Osaka has managed to achieve an overall 30-11 record in 2026. The Japanese is competing in Beijing where she defeated the world no.68 Maria Timofeeva 6-3 3-6 6-3 and the world no.29 Sara Bejlek 7-6(4) 6-4.
Naomi Osaka will fight against the world no.8 Karolina Muchova in the 4th round on Tuesday at 3:00 pm on Court 2. Their actual record is 4-3 for Muchova.
The Japanese won 7 titles in her career: all of them conquered on hard courts. (See the list of her titles)
