In a matchup of two of the hardest hitters on tour, that was Naomi Osaka's strategy against top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka in the most highly awaited matchup of Wimbledon so far this year.
Sabalenka had beaten Osaka in all three of their previous matches this year, including at the same stage of the French Open last month.
"On the clay courts I felt like she was pushing me back a lot. I just tried to do it to her first," Osaka said on Monday AEST after beating Sabalenka 6-2 7-6 (2) to reach the quarter-finals at the All England Club for the first time.
Osaka's pace and flat groundstrokes overwhelmed Sabalenka.
"Obviously we're big ball strikers. It's not like I'm going to start running around the court trying to draw an error from her. I can only focus on my strengths," Osaka said.
"I just tried to serve really well, because it's grass. I also tried to get the upper hand in the rallies first."
Osaka's power had an even bigger impact than usual as her balls flew through the air faster on the warmest day of the tournament so far: The temperature during the match reached 28 degrees Celsius.
"She overpowered me," Sabalenka said. "I felt like it was incredible level from her."
Besides Paris, Sabalenka also beat Osaka in Indian Wells, California, and Madrid this year.
"That really sucked," Osaka said. "So I wanted to turn it (around)."
When it was over, Osaka performed a few fist pumps, let out a brief smile and then placed her racket over her head and spun around in delight to celebrate her first career win on Centre Court.
"It's been a long time since I've had so much fun on the court," Osaka said. "And to do it here, it really means a lot."
It was Osaka's first win over a No.1 player since beating Ash Barty in Beijing in 2019. That was before Osaka, a former No.1 herself, took breaks from the tour to manage her mental health in 2021 and for maternity leave that resulted in her missing all of 2023.
Osaka's daughter turned three on Thursday.
It's the second straight Grand Slam in which Sabalenka has failed to reach the latter stages. After a stunning meltdown against Diana Shnaider in the French Open quarter-finals last month, Sabalenka said she "just want to quit tennis."
This time, Sabalenka said she wanted to "get completely drunk, forget about tennis, and try to get in better shape."
Osaka next faces Karolina Muchova, who beat 2024 Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova 7-5 5-7 6-3.
Coco Gauff also reached the Wimbledon quarter-finals on Sunday (Monday AEST) for the first time by overcoming Belinda Bencic 4-6 3-6 6-4 just before the 11 pm curfew.
Gauff will next meet fellow American Jessica Pegula, who beat Iva Jovic, another American, 4-6 6-3 6-1.Â
6°C