Just minutes after making a career-first breakthrough at Wimbledon, Naomi Osaka rushed to celebrate her countryman Shintaro Mochizuki’s historic third-round win as a qualifier in SW19. The rising Japanese star is all set to make his maiden round of 16 appearance, with Osaka also advancing to the second week of SW19.
Ranked world No. 151, Mochizuki went through four grueling matches before defeating Rafael Jodar in four sets on Friday, 1-6, 7-6(5), 6-4, 6-4. It took Mochizuki three hours in court 18 to create the upset.
Among the many attendees in the stands was Naomi Osaka, who cheered enthusiastically from the stands. The four-time Grand Slam champion was seen rushing over after her 6-1, 6-3 victory against Daria Kasatkina in the third round to applaud Mochizuki. Osaka also captured the special moment on her phone as her fellow Japanese star bowed to the grass and celebrated his memorable win.
The duo was part of the same team at the 2026 United Cup in January, where they represented team Japan. Now, the pair has achieved a shared milestone on the same Friday by reaching Wimbledon’s round of 16 for the first time.
While Osaka gets ready to face Aryna Sabalenka, Mochizuki is in for a career-defining challenge as he is scheduled to go up against the defending champion Jannik Sinner in the fourth round.
Naomi Osaka Set for Blockbuster Wimbledon R16 Clash With Aryna Sabalenka
Naomi Osaka’s Wimbledon Round of 16 qualification on Friday was a first one for the Japanese star, but the victory came with a price, as she now faces a daunting task to go up against world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the round of 16 after the Belarusian just secured a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Jelena Ostapenko on Friday.
Osaka has had a history with the Sabalenka. Her clash with the World No. 1 narrates a dominating story as the Belarusian holds a commanding 3-1 head-to-head record advantage over Osaka.
Interestingly, the Japanese star has never played on grass with Sabalenka, as all their previous encounters remained confined to hard courts and clay.
They last squared off at the past Roland Garros, and incidentally, it was also a fourth-round clash between the two where Sabalenka beat the Japanese star. It remains to be seen if their first grass encounter this Sunday could alter their history.
Read more:
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in tennis, college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!