Wimbledon day seven
Coco Gauff beats Belinda Bencic just before 23:00 BST curfew to reach quarter-finals for first time
Defending champion Jannik Sinner tested by Shintaro Mochizuki but wins in straight sets
World number one Aryna Sabalenka comprehensively beaten by Naomi Osaka
Novak Djokovic breaks Roger Federer record on way to quarter-finals; Felix Auger-Aliassime through; Hubert Hurkacz retires against Jan-Lennard Struff
Jessica Pegula beats Iva Jovic; 2024 champion Barbora Krejcikova knocked out by Karolina Muchova
Sabalenka 1-0 Osaka*
Amy Lofthouse
BBC Sport at Wimbledon
Judging by the crowd I just shuffled my way through, a lot of people have nipped out of Centre Court for a comfort break.
The ball is already pinging off the strings of Sabalenka and Osaka first up.
Image source, BBC SportSabalenka 1-0 Osaka*
Aryna Sabalenka settles in quickly with a hold to love.
We saw such a high level between the pair at the French Open a month or so ago.
Let's hope this one hits those same highs.
*Sabalenka 0-0 Osaka
Warm-ups are done and we're ready to go with Aryna Sabalenka on serve.
Very excited for this one.
Sabalenka v Osaka
Naomi Osaka brought in coach Tomasz Wiktorowski in mid-2025 and her metrics across the board have climbed.
Wiktorowski helped Iga Swiatek to win four Grand Slam titles between 2022 and 2024 and Osaka is hoping to reap similar rewards as she seeks her fifth Grand Slam crown.
Osaka's forehand has seen the biggest improvement but it's positives all round when taking into account her serve, return and backhand.
Sabalenka v Osaka
It's over five years since Naomi Osaka lifted the last of her four Grand Slam titles at the Australian Open but her resurgence over the past 12 months has been great to watch.
The 28-year-old reached the semi-finals of the US Open last year and has carried that momentum into 2026.
Osaka is yet to drop a set across her opening three matches at Wimbledon and a large part of her success is down to improvements with her forehand - as you can see below.
Sabalenka v Osaka
Emily Salley
BBC Sport at Wimbledon
Image source, Getty ImagesThere are a lot of similarities between Aryna Sabalenka and Naomi Osaka.
Both have won four Grand Slam titles, been top of the world rankings and built their legacies on hard courts.
The big-hitting pair broke through on the WTA Tour around the same time, but their journeys have been very different.
While one peaked early, the other had a longer wait for success.
After they first met at the 2018 US Open - with Osaka going on to win her maiden major - they did not face each other again until 2026.
The pair have now faced each other three times in the space of three months - and today they will go head-to-head again in a blockbuster fourth-round clash at Wimbledon.
Sabalenka v Osaka
Naomi Osaka and Aryna Sabalenka have been setting the tone in the women's singles draw at Wimbledon this year.
Four-time Grand Slam champion Osaka has never previously gone beyond the third round, but she leads the way in terms of performance rating.
Sabalenka, who has also lifted four Grand Slam titles, has exited at the semi-finals in each of her past three appearances.
If you're scratching your head as to how the performance rating is worked out then, fear not, we have you covered. It's a combination of shots played in attack, points won in attack, points won in defence and shot quality.
Sabalenka v Osaka
No surprises that it's a very warm reception for Aryna Sabalenka and Naomi Osaka as they make their walk on to Centre Court.
There are a few shouts of "come on Aryna" as the pair meet at the net for the coin toss. Sabalenka wins the toss and elects to serve.
They'll go through their warm-up routines now before we get going in this fourth round tie.
Image source, ReutersSabalenka v Osaka
Aryna Sabalenka has an incredible tie-break record at Grand Slams - she's won her last 21!
Watch her reaction to Jamie Murray's analysis of her performance during the crunch moments.
Sabalenka backs up Murray's tie-break analysis
Sabalenka v Osaka
Image source, Getty ImagesYou've not got long to wait for the next match on Centre Court and it's a cracker with Aryna Sabalenka up against Naomi Osaka.
We're told they are due on court at 17:23 BST.
Safiullin 6-7 (6-8) 3-6 6-3 3-6 Djokovic
Image source, Getty ImagesSeven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic, speaking on Centre Court after beating qualifier Roman Safiullin: "Another hard-fought win. Roman [Safiullin] started very well. He was very aggressive so I didn't maybe feel as comfortable from the back of the court.
"I knew it was going to be a challenge staying in the rallies with him, particularly from the end where we were playing against the wind for pretty much the whole match. He is a very solid player, I respect him a lot, I've played him on different surfaces but never on grass.
"He's had some great wins this week, I wish him the best of luck for the rest of the season. He should be proud of his performance today.
"I don't get to feel inferior from the back of the court against too many players throughout my career, if I'm totally honest. Today it was one of those days where I didn't want to stay in the rallies too long, to be honest, so I had to mix things up. It worked in some moments and in others it didn't.
"In the end, I managed to find the accuracy and precision on my first serve, which really got me out of trouble in the fourth set."
On how he reflects on week one of Wimbledon 2026: "Survive to thrive - that's how I feel. Hopefully the thriving part is coming!"
On whether his mind ever wanders on court: "I'm known for my outbursts and meltdowns as well, I had a few of those today so I apologise. Does my mind wander? You played right [Annabel Croft], back in the days, you remember? Our mind wanders all the time. It is very hard to keep it in the present moment. Whoever does that is a winner."
Safiullin 6-7 (6-8) 3-6 6-3 3-6 Djokovic
Image source, Getty ImagesNovak Djokovic mentions his "outbursts" on court today, admits there were "a few" and apologises to the crowd.
The seven-time champion didn't always appear to be enjoying himself but those in the crowd will still have had fun wacthing him.
They witnessed history as well. Djokovic's 106th victory in the men's singles at Wimbledon, taking him past Roger Federer's previous record of 105. Both in 119 matches.
Djokovic's 120th will be in the quarter-finals on Tuesday.
Safiullin 6-7 (6-8) 3-6 6-3 3-6 Djokovic
Tim Henman
Former British number one on BBC One
That certainly wasn't Novak Djokovic's best performance, but there is no remarks column. He came out here to win and he did exactly that to move into the quarter-finals.
I don't think it was too physically demanding. I don't expect this match to jeopardise him going forward. But spare a thought for his opponent, he's had a fantastic run.
Image source, Getty Images*Auger-Aliassime 6-7 (4-7) 3-4 Davidovich Fokina
Just over midway through the second set and still not a single break of serve between Canadian third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime and Spanish 22nd seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
It has another tie-break written all over it at the moment.
Messi, Ronaldo move aside. Hard to like Djokovic a lot of the time with some of his antics on court over the years. I will admit, though, this man is doing the impossible in tennis. The greatest ever. He’s 39! The GOAT.
Shane, London
Safiullin 6-7 (6-8) 3-6 6-3 3-6 Djokovic
Nick Lester
Former British tennis player on BBC One
A high-quality encounter but, when all is said and done, it is Novak Djokovic who will move into a 66th major quarter-final. He overcomes the challenge of the qualifier today.
It was a tough one. He needed three and a half hours to close it out, but he is through.
Safiullin 6-7 (6-8) 3-6 6-3 3-6 Djokovic
Novak Djokovic is through to the Wimbledon quarter-finals for a ninth straight year - no wonder no one has won as many men's singles matches here as he has!
A sumptuous drop volley to finish as well. At 39, he is still a very classy operator.
The Serb was not particularly happy for much of that match but he's through to another Grand Slam quarter-final - his 66th - and that's what matters.
A valiant effort from Roman Safiullin but, ultimately, he came up short against one of the greats of the game.
Image source, Getty ImagesSafiullin 6-7 (6-8) 3-6 6-3 2-5 Djokovic*
Harry Poole
BBC Sport at Wimbledon
Roman Safuillin isn't done entertaining the crowd just yet!
That lovely, slick control of the ball sent back to him by Novak Djokovic after his first serve missed was greeted by a collective 'oooh' from his rather impressed audience.
Few manage to hang on for long once Djokovic gets this close to the finish line, however...
Safiullin 6-7 (6-8) 3-6 6-3 3-5 Djokovic*
Roman Safiullin gets to 40-30 with a couple of strong serves but Novak Djokovic's cross-court forehand really packs a punch and takes it to deuce.
The qualifier keeps fighting, though, and an ace down the T secures the hold.
Djokovic will serve for the match.
Safiullin 6-7 (6-8) 3-6 6-3 2-5 Djokovic*
John McEnroe
Three-time Wimbledon singles champion on BBC One
Novak Djokovic has done an admirable job of doing what needs to be done today. What needed to be done was for him to get more aggressive in this set.
He has understood how to make life a little bit easier for himself. He doesn't want to be getting into long extended rallies at his age, it is a different time for him. That's why this court is so appealing for his belief in winning a 25th major.
