Tennis: Naomi Osaka beaten by Pavlyuchenkova in Wimbledon 3rd round
The 27-year-old Osaka was aiming to reach the fourth round of the grass court Grand Slam for the first time in her career.
The four-time Grand Slam winner got off to a strong start and found success with her serve throughout the match, sending down 15 aces.
Pavlyuchenkova was a perfect 13 for 13 in net points and held firm as Osaka charged back from 3-0 down to 4-4 in both the second and third sets.
With her victory, the 34-year-old Russian advanced to the last 16 at Wimbledon for the second time in her career and the first time since 2016.
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Japan Times
16 hours ago
- Japan Times
Osaka still dreams of glory despite latest Wimbledon disappointment
Naomi Osaka admits she contemplates life without tennis but the Japanese star does not plan to quit just yet despite her latest painful defeat at Wimbledon on Friday. Osaka blew a golden opportunity to reach the fourth round of Wimbledon for the first time as she was beaten by Russian world No. 50 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. The 27-year-old took the first set, but she lost her way as Pavlyuchenkova battled back to clinch a 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 victory. Osaka is a four-time Grand Slam champion but she has not won a major since 2021 and has still never been beyond the third round at the All England Club. "Right now I'm just really upset. I wanted to better than I did before. I thought I could make a great run here but clearly not," Osaka said. Osaka gave birth to a daughter in July 2023, returning from a 15-month sabbatical for the start of the 2024 season. Visibly frustrated throughout her postmatch press conference after losing on Friday, she was asked if she thought about hanging up her racket to find happiness elsewhere. "Yeah. I feel like I'd be kind of crazy to not, but I think right now I have so many things I want to attempt to achieve," she said. "I feel like while I still have the opportunity to try to do it, I want to, even though I get very upset when I lose, but I think that's my competitive nature. That's also the younger sister syndrome. "No person wants to feel this way, like, multiple times throughout the year, but tennis players are crazy." The former world No. 1, now 53rd in the WTA rankings, has always struggled on grass and is relishing a return to hard courts. "In Paris I was very emotional when I sat there (after losing in the first round) and now I don't feel anything. I guess I prefer to feel nothing than everything," she said. "I'm just going to be a negative human being today. I have nothing positive to say about myself. "I'm glad to be done with this, and I'm looking forward to the hard courts."
The Mainichi
20 hours ago
- The Mainichi
Tennis: Naomi Osaka beaten by Pavlyuchenkova in Wimbledon 3rd round
LONDON (Kyodo) -- Japan's former World No. 1 Naomi Osaka was beaten by third-round opponent Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova at Wimbledon on Friday, exiting the tournament 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 in a thrilling 2-hour, 3-minute battle. The 27-year-old Osaka was aiming to reach the fourth round of the grass court Grand Slam for the first time in her career. The four-time Grand Slam winner got off to a strong start and found success with her serve throughout the match, sending down 15 aces. Pavlyuchenkova was a perfect 13 for 13 in net points and held firm as Osaka charged back from 3-0 down to 4-4 in both the second and third sets. With her victory, the 34-year-old Russian advanced to the last 16 at Wimbledon for the second time in her career and the first time since 2016.
Japan Today
a day ago
- Japan Today
Alcaraz reaches Wimbledon last 16 as seeds tumble again
Spain's Carlos Alcaraz celebrates after his victory against Jan-Lennard Struff in the Wimbledon third round tennis By John WEAVER Carlos Alcaraz made hard work of beating Jan-Lennard Struff to reach the Wimbledon last-16 on Friday, avoiding the fate of Australian Open champion Madison Keys, who joined the mass exodus of top seeds. The Spanish second seed eventually overcame German world number 125 Struff 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 to stay on track for a third straight Wimbledon crown. But Alcaraz will have to cut out his errors if he is to become just the fifth man in the Open era perform that feat. "I knew it was going to be really difficult. I had to be really focused. His game suits the grass with the big serves," said the 22-year-old. "It's stressful. To be honest, I was suffering in every service game today, 0-30, break points down. I'm really pleased that I was fighting, running for every ball and making great shots." Alcaraz made 28 unforced errors in an inconsistent display on Centre Court. But he conjured enough moments of magic to eventually subdue the world number 125 and book his place in the fourth round, where he will meet Russia's Andrey Rublev. Alcaraz had been pushed to the brink in a five-set win over 38-year-old Italian Fabio Fognini in the first round and looked below his best again in a second-round victory over British amateur Oliver Tarvet. The women's draw is bereft of star names after the departure of a succession of top players. Keys' 6-3, 6-3 defeat by Germany's Laura Siegemund means only world number one Aryna Sabalenka is still alive at the All England Club out of the top six women's seeds. Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, Jasmine Paolini and Zheng Qinwen have already fallen by the wayside. On the men's side, half of the top-10 seeds have gone, though Alcaraz and world number one Jannik Sinner are still standing. U.S. sixth seed Keys had won 13 of her 14 Grand Slam matches this year, but made 31 unforced errors in a lacklustre display against 37-year-old Siegemund, ranked 104 in the world. Sabalenka will be desperate to buck the trend when she faces a potentially tricky encounter against former US Open champion Emma Raducanu in the third round. Raducanu ousted 2023 Wimbledon winner Marketa Vondrousova in the second round and is in the mood to cause an upset. "I think having won against Marketa, she's also a really top opponent, so that gives me confidence. I feel amazing," said the 22-year-old. "Of course, Aryna is number one in the world, she's been so dominant in the women's game," she said. "I know it's going to be a massive challenge." Earlier at the All England Club, Japan's four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka lost in three sets to Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, ranked 50th in the world. Osaka has not reached the fourth round of a Grand Slam since she won the Australian Open in 2021 but is still hungry for success. "I feel like while I still have the opportunity to try to do it, I want to, even though I get very upset when I lose, but I think that's my competitive nature. That's also the younger sister syndrome," she said. There were also wins for Britain's Sonay Kartal, 13th seed Amanda Anisimova and Elise Mertens. U.S. men's fifth seed Taylor Fritz avoided a third straight five-setter, beating Spains' Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-4, 6-3, 6-7 (5/7), 6-1. Britain's Cameron Norrie saw off Italian Mattia Bellucci in straight sets to qualify the quarter-finals for the first time since 2022, when he reached the last four. Highly promising Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca was ousted by Chilean qualifier Nicolas Jarry. It took U.S. men's 10th seed Ben Shelton just 71 seconds to complete his second-round match, sealing a 6-2, 7-5, 6-4 win against Australia's Rinky Hijikata after the match was halted on Thursday due to failing light. © 2025 AFP
