“I will have the opportunity to take revenge.”

Aryna Sabalenka and Naomi Osaka will face each other in a huge showdown in Indian Wells. As the two players prepare for their battle in the round of 16, the Belarusian player joked that their next confrontation will be like a “fashion show,” while Osaka expressed her enthusiasm for the confrontation between them.

Both Sabalenka and Osaka have been vocal about their love of fashion on and off the tennis court. Osaka often left fans amazed with her dramatic entrance on tour, while Sabalenka showed her love for the former world number one’s bold tastes and expressed a desire to design her own kits in the future.

Now, as Aryna Sabalenka and Naomi Osaka prepare to battle in Indian Wells, the world number one joked that the match would be a “fashion show”, telling the media:

“Well, it’ll definitely be a fashion show at first. Then a crazy match. She’s an amazing player. She’s back after the pregnancy. Incredible shape. I’ve been watching her matches, and I really like her.”

For her part, Osaka highlighted that she is looking forward to the “exciting” confrontation, saying:

“I mean, for me, it’s really exciting. I’ve watched her, I don’t want to say ‘grow over the years,’ because I think she’s a little younger than me and I feel like an older person, but yeah, I’ve watched her grow over the years. Obviously she’s very consistent, she’s the No. 1 player in the world, and that, to me, is very motivating. I’m excited to play with her, and I look up to her a lot.”

Aryna Sabalenka also stated that she would be keen to avenge her 2018 US Open loss to the Japanese star, where she participated,

“Perhaps I will have a chance for revenge, I hope. I would like to play her part.”

At the 2018 US Open, Osaka outlasted Sabalenka after a grueling three-set battle in the round of 16. The pair have not faced each other on the WTA Tour since then.

Aryna Sabalenka and Naomi Osaka talk about their third round win

Aryna Sabalenka and Naomi Osaka both performed admirably in their third round matches. Sabalenka defeated Jacqueline Christian 6-4, 6-1. Reflecting on her victory, the Belarusian said after the match:

“I knew she wasn’t going to give up easily. That’s why I was so focused, especially on my serve. I didn’t want to give her too many chances.” [I was] “I am very happy with the serve, the match and of course the win.”

For her part, Osaka defeated Camila Osorio 6-1, 3-6, 6-1. After the match, the four-time Grand Slam champion highlighted her positive attitude as the key to her victory, saying:

“I can only say that I tried to be more positive. I feel like I was complaining a lot in the second set and I kind of thought my daughter could watch me struggle on the court. So I needed to improve my attitude and that’s what I did in the third set.”

Next, Aryna Sabalenka and Naomi Osaka will face each other on Tuesday, March 10. Sabalenka will enter the match as the favorite to win.