Russian world No. 50 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova overturned a one-set deficit to defeat four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the Wimbledon third round on Friday at the All England Club. The 34-year-old fired consistent returns and saved two break points at 4-4 in the second set before seizing momentum, booking her first appearance in the tournament’s last 16 since 2016. Pavlyuchenkova will meet Britain’s Sonay Kartal on Sunday as she attempts to match or surpass her 2016 quarter-final run. Osaka, who struck 15 aces but double-faulted when serving to stay in both the second and third sets, remains without a round-of-16 showing at Wimbledon. The former world No. 1, now ranked 53 after returning to the tour last season following maternity leave, has lost six of her past seven matches in deciding sets at majors. “The majority of you were cheering for Naomi, but that’s OK. I’m mentally tough,” Pavlyuchenkova told the crowd. Osaka said she felt “numb” after the defeat and is aiming to reset ahead of the upcoming hard-court swing in North America.
Naomi Osaka falls short at another major. Are changes needed to her team?👇 #Wimbledon https://t.co/eDVkjcu2yW
Naomi Osaka has ‘nothing positive to say’ about herself after Wimbledon heartbreak https://t.co/gH880BK4Yx https://t.co/HgggndTCuP
Naomi Osaka might be more comfortable on grass courts these days but she will once again leave Wimbledon in the third round after a 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 loss to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova on Friday. https://t.co/GLAQL4x6pM