Sabalenka sets up fourth-round match with Osaka

Sabalenka sets up fourth-round match with OsakaImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Aryna Sabalenka and Naomi Osaka will face each other for the third time in 2026ByPaul BattisonBBC Sport JournalistPublished11 minutes agoTop seed Aryna Sabalenka beat Daria Kasatkina in straight sets to set up a mouth-watering fourth-round match against Naomi Osaka at the French Open.The 28-year-old Belarusian delivered a commanding display as she won 6-0 7-5 against the Australian on Court Suzanne-Lenglen.World number one Sabalenka is chasing her first title at Roland Garros as she looks to add to her Grand Slam tally of four.Japanese 16th seed Osaka, also a four-time Grand Slam winner, reached the last 16 after beating American 17th seed Iva Jovic 7-6 (7-5) 6-7 (3-7) 6-4.The pair have faced each other twice this year, with world number one Sabalenka securing victories against Osaka at Indian Wells, in March, and the Madrid Open last month.When asked about the prospect of facing Sabalenka, Osaka was nonchalant as she replied "Yolo", an acronym for 'you only live once'.Osaka, who is also chasing a first title in Paris, added: "I feel like I played a pretty good match against her in Madrid. I think I just dipped in the second and third set. "Hopefully just keep the consistency and keep trying to be aggressive. Whatever happens, happens."The clearest sign Father Time is closing in on Djokovic?Published16 hours agoWhy beating Djokovic is coming of age moment for FonsecaPublished17 hours agoAdvertising blocks moved after players air concernsPublished3 hours agoSabalenka said she was relishing the match against Osaka, while adding it is great to see her showing signs of the form which made her a four-time Grand Slam champion.Osaka won the US Open and Australian Open twice between 2018 and 2021 but did not play for 14 months around the the birth of her daughter Shai in July 2023."It's great to see her back on her level. Maybe not at her best...