Naomi Osaka defeated Aryna Sabalenka 6-2, 7-6(2) at Wimbledon on Sunday, thanks in part to the guidance of Iga Świątek's former coach Tomasz Wiktorowski.
What happened?
Osaka's win marked her first triumph against a top-10 player at a non-hardcourt tournament.
Why it matters for Iga Świątek
Wiktorowski coached Świątek from 2021 to 2024, helping her win 19 titles, including four Grand Slams.
Osaka praised Wiktorowski after the match, saying he helped her improve her game on grass courts.
What comes next?
Osaka will face Karolína Muchová in the quarterfinals, looking to continue her strong run at Wimbledon.
Iga Świątek, meanwhile, has struggled since parting ways with Wiktorowski, losing in the third round at Wimbledon.
Osaka has lost just 7 of her 27 matches in 2026, with four of those defeats coming against Sabalenka and Świątek.
Wiktorowski joined Osaka's team in July 2025, sparking a turnaround in her fortunes.
The Japanese tennis star reached the final of the WTA 1000 Canadian Open and the semifinals of the US Open with Wiktorowski's guidance.
Świątek's current coach is Francisco Roig, but the partnership has not yielded instant success.
Osaka's comments about Wiktorowski came just days after she praised him during her press conference after the third round.
She said Wiktorowski's drills helped her improve her understanding of the grass court surface.
The 28-year-old Osaka will look to continue her strong run at Wimbledon, seeking her fifth Grand Slam title.
Her next match against Muchová promises to be a fascinating battle.
Osaka's win over Sabalenka marked a significant milestone in her career, as she made the quarterfinals of Wimbledon for the first time.
The win was also a testament to Wiktorowski's coaching abilities, as he has helped Osaka adapt to the grass court surface.
Iga Świątek's former coach has made a significant impact on Osaka's game, and she will look to continue her strong run at Wimbledon.