Naomi Osaka’s resurgence ends in Wimbledon quarter-finals but faith in a fifth grand slam title remains

After a clinical demolition of world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the fourth round Naomi Osaka looked to be in Wimbledon-winning form, back at the peak of her powers for the first time in years.

But she was handed a painful lesson as she was edged out in a match of fine margins by the wily 10th seed, Karolina Muchova, in the quarter-finals. An increasingly morose Osaka fell 7-6(4) 6-4 under the early evening sun on Centre Court, which had been her kingdom just two days prior.

Having “overpowered” Sabalenka, in the Belarusian’s words, with her supreme ball-striking and easy power on Sunday, Osaka found she could not hit through Muchova in quite the same way. She told press later: “I just feel like I didn’t play well at all and I didn’t have any energy.”

It was a bitter defeat after such a stunning run. She said: “I know my results don’t show it, but whenever I play a slam, my intention is to win. And obviously last year I got to the semis [at the US Open]. I wanted so desperately to be in the final to have that opportunity, but Amanda [Anisimova] played insane. This one is a little more upsetting to me because I feel like there was so much more I could have done.”

Muchova’s gamestyle harks back to a bygone era, matched by her Steffi Graf-esque headband and ponytail, and she was at her best on Centre Court – where she had never won a match in three previous attempts, as she told the crowd. Beaming, she said: “I love grass. It’s perfect that I can prolong this short season.

“I was very nervous! She is an unbelievable athlete, we played a week ago [in the Bad Homburg final, when Osaka retired injured] so we know each other pretty well. You can’t lose that focus, because you give her a little chance, she takes it and it goes the other way.”

The Czech combined clean groundstrokes of her own with mastery at the net and a vintage serve-and-volley technique, with her slice, variety and near-flawlessness in every aspect of her game proving impossible to break down. The pair both hit 24 winners but, increasingly frustrated by Muchova, Osaka hit 32 unforced errors to her opponent’s 21, trying and failing to find a way through.

By contrast to the day’s first quarter-final, a tight, nervy affair between Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula, Osaka’s contest with Muchova was high-quality from the start, although four consecutive breaks of serves indicated how high the stakes were.

After Muchova, the 2023 French Open runner-up, held for 3-2 they each settled in, with neither able to find a breakthrough until errors crept into Osaka’s game in the tie-break.

She repeatedly overhit, particularly on the forehand side, and despite saving two set points could not prevent the Czech clinching the breaker with a stunning cross-court forehand. She shook her fist at her box with a steely look, while the 14th seed sped off court to reset.

Muchova’s variety, court coverage and deft touch at the net make her a nightmare to play at the best of times, but she was particularly relentless on Tuesday, seeming to float all over the court. She held to love with an ace, not giving Osaka any room to manoeuvre, and the Japanese player cut an increasingly frustrated figure.

But Muchova was unable to take her chances on Osaka’s serve; she double faulted to go 0-30 down but cheered on by Centre Court she rescued the game, pulling back in front for 40-30 before a lethal Muchova backhand down the line. The Czech then volleyed into the net, shaking her head and smacking her head – very gently – with her racquet, her mild-mannered demeanour not quite breaking, at her wasted chance.

Osaka eventually dug herself out of the game, but her body language remained muted as Muchova was impregnable on serve, holding to love for 3-3 with another ace.

The crucial moment came at 4-4. Osaka followed an ace with a double fault for deuce, the crowd, sensing the danger, immediately coming to her aid. She responded with an almost languid kick serve out wide, but double faulted again.

Even with Osaka on the brink Muchova could not quite pounce, but Osaka’s forehand – a troublesome shot for her throughout the set – tightened up even further. She netted and took a moment to compose herself at the back of the court before stepping up to serve once more, but conceded the break with a truly awful shanked overhead wide.

Having not had a look-in on serve all match it seemed as Osaka stepped to the baseline that she knew it was over. Muchova duly rattled to a hold to love, two aces sealing a place in a maiden semi-final.

She broke into a beaming smile while Osaka trudged sadly off court, waving to the appreciative Centre Court crowd; a good performance but not quite enough against an absolutely inspired opponent – exactly what she had been against Sabalenka two days prior.

The 28-year-old is back in her best form and has finally made peace with grass, but after such an encouraging 10 days, this will sting. She said later: “Maybe I should find the positive in that, because I got to the quarters and I feel like I can still improve so much as a player.” But crucially: “In my head I think there’s still an opportunity to win a slam.” On the basis of this week, it feels only a matter of time.