Osaka targets Sabalenka revenge in Wimbledon last 16, Sinner prepared for test

[p]Title rivals [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/djokovic-novak/AZg49Et9/"]Novak Djokovic[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sinner-jannik/6HdC3z4H/"]Jannik Sinner[/a] aim to stay on track for a blockbuster semi-final showdown.[/p][p]AFP Sport looks at three matches to watch on the seventh day of the tournament:[/p][h2][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sabalenka-aryna/vyhksgUB/"]Aryna Sabalenka[/a] (BLR x1) v [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/osaka-naomi/MDM4BKiA/"]Naomi Osaka[/a] (JPN x14)[/h2][p][b]Sabalenka leads head to head 3-1[/b][/p][p]Osaka hopes to reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals for the first time by avenging a 7-5, 6-3 defeat against Sabalenka in the French Open last 16 in June.[/p][p]The pair are both four-time Grand Slam champions who have never triumphed at Wimbledon.[/p][p]They have already collided three times in 2026, with Sabalenka winning on the hard courts of Indian Wells, before clay clashes in Madrid and Roland Garros.[/p][p]Having taking six out of the seven sets between them this year, Sabalenka is relishing their [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/osaka-n-MDM4BKiA/sabalenka-a-vyhksgUB/?mid=M52M976j"]latest encounter[/a].[/p][p][b]"Yeah, it's been a great rivalry. Every time it's a battle. Every time it's high-level matches. Super excited to play her,"[/b] she said.[/p][image alt="Win probability" id="be4a9bc9-a675-4fb9-a3c9-a25c98fe468c" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="7b899560-4c2b-4b45-97c1-b176a7daee88" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p]Osaka, seeded 14th, is finally finding her groove on grass, helping by the eye-catching outfits she arrives on court wearing.[/p][p]The 28-year-old believes all the talk about fashion has taken the pressure of her tennis.[/p][p][b]"In some ways I feel like I'm a lot more equipped to talk about my clothes than about my tennis,"[/b] Osaka said.[/p][p][b]"She's the number one player in the world. If there is someone I had to lose to, I would pick that ranking position. If anything, I would say I learnt from all of those matches."[/b][/p][h2]Jannik Sinner (ITA x1) v [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mochizuki-shintaro/KrwvlzXb/"]Shintaro Mochizuki[/a] (JPN)[/h2][p][b]First meeting[/b][/p][p]Sinner's bid for a second successive Wimbledon crown will get an [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/mochizuki-s-KrwvlzXb/sinner-j-6HdC3z4H/?mid=QeCDdkzA"]unusual test[/a] from Japanese qualifier Mochizuki.[/p][p]While Sinner's thunderous serve and blistering ground-strokes make him a formidable opponent on Wimbledon's fast grass-courts, Mochizuki hopes to unsettle the world number one by taking the opposite approach.[/p][p]The 23-year-old enjoyed one of the best wins of his career when he shocked Spanish rising star [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/jodar-rafael/OdngshVK/"]Rafael Jodar[/a] in the third round.[/p][p]It was the world number 151's sixth win since he arrived at Wimbledon in dismal form ahead of the qualifying stages last week.[/p][p][b]"I was not winning much before coming here, and I don't know how I have been winning matches here," [/b]he said.[/p][embed guid="bd367bc0-ee70-4840-a67a-8a3c99f9a1e7" url="https://x.com/Wimbledon/status/2073635358936625234" social-type="twitter" /][p]Asked if he would be intimidated to face Sinner, Mochizuki revealed his unorthodox game-plan.[/p][p][b]"I think he's just a celebrity for me. It feels strange to play against him. But I'm sure he's gonna play very quick and try to destroy me,"[/b] he said.[/p][p][b]"I want to do whatever I can to, let's say, distract him, because just by hitting tennis balls, I don't think I can beat him.[/b][/p][p][b]"I want to do something else to make him uncomfortable. Like hitting balls low, coming into the net. I don't think he's used to these kind of players."[/b][/p][h2]Novak Djokovic (SRB x7) v [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/safiullin-roman/IBpggNog/"]Roman Safiullin[/a] (RUS)[/h2][p][b]Djokovic leads head to head 3-0[/b][/p][p]Chasing a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title, Djokovic is building momentum as he progresses towards his ninth successive Wimbledon quarter-final.[/p][p]The 39-year-old hasn't missed out on the last eight at the All England Club since 2016.[/p][p]It would be a monumental shock if Safiullin ends that streak in his [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/djokovic-n-AZg49Et9/safiullin-r-IBpggNog/?mid=jPGJz8Dj"]first grass-court meeting[/a] with seven-time Wimbledon champion Djokovic.[/p][p][b]But Djokovic can't afford to underestimate the Russian world number 132, who defeated Brazil's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/fonseca-joao/tv073LUc/"]Joao Fonseca[/a] in the third round - a feat the Serb couldn't manage when he was beaten by the teenager in the recent French Open.[/b][/p][p]Injury-plagued Safiullin, who hadn't won a single tour-level match this year before Wimbledon, came through qualifying to make the main draw.[/p][p]The 2023 Wimbledon quarter-finalist wept tears of joy after beating Fonseca.[/p][p][b]"Even half a year ago, I didn't know whether I would be able to come back. I'm super happy to be here,"[/b] he said.[/p][infobox id="e4d8200d-597f-48d7-83c2-d394f1217426" /]