Back in 2018 in New York, neither were Grand Slam winners. Only one spot separated them in the rankings — Osaka came in 19th and Sabalenka 20th.
Osaka won in three sets in the fourth round, the only set she’d lose the entire fortnight. About a week later, Osaka opened her Grand Slam account by topping Serena Williams.
“I do remember it just because I felt like in that tournament, that was the hardest match for me, and I remember thinking, ‘We’re both going to get very far,’” said Osaka. “Obviously, I was right. It’s really cool to see how far we both have come.”
Osaka has since won three more majors, all of them on hard courts, and formerly held the No. 1 ranking. Like the US-based Japanese slugger, Sabalenka owns two US Open and two Australian Open trophies.
Injuries, a mental health break and pregnancy all contributed to less than a full schedule for Osaka over the years and thus, more encounters with Sabalenka.
AloJapan.com