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When Sabalenka and Osaka faced each other for the first time almost eight years ago in New York, they were both 20 years old and rapidly rising up the rankings.<\/p>\n
Both players have said the fourth-round match, which Japan’s Osaka won 6-3 2-6 6-4, was a turning point in their careers.<\/p>\n
“I felt like we both were kind of upcoming, [the] next generation,” said top seed Sabalenka.<\/p>\n
“When she won that match, I had a feeling she is going to win a Slam.”<\/p>\n
The Belarusian – who had been a break up in the deciding set – was right. Five days later, Osaka beat Serena Williams to become the first player from Japan to win a major title.<\/p>\n
In the 28 months that followed, Osaka won three more Grand Slam titles. Sabalenka claimed none.<\/p>\n
But their careers soon took different paths. <\/p>\n
Osaka briefly stepped away from tennis in 2021 to prioritise her mental health before taking 15 months of maternity leave with daughter Shai, who was born in July 2023.<\/p>\n
While Osaka was away, Sabalenka finally had her breakthrough moment, triumphing at the 2023 Australian Open for her first Grand Slam title.<\/p>\n
“Obviously [we have a] different story,” Sabalenka said after her third-round win over Jelena Ostapenko.<\/p>\n
“She went through different things. I went through different things. I feel like we both were completely different players and people.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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