Naomi Osaka is into the quarterfinals in Washington for the first time. The four-time Grand Slam champion advanced at the 2026 DC Open 6-3, 3-1 on Wednesday, after opponent Ashlyn Krueger retired with a right ankle injury sustained in the opening set.
Krueger had called for medical attention while trailing in the first frame. She returned to the court but could not move freely, forcing the 53-minute contest to end before the second set reached its midpoint.
Naomi Osaka Cruises Before Krueger Retires from 2026 DC Open
Before Krueger's retirement, though, Osaka controlled play from the baseline. She won 80% of points on her first serve and 77% off Krueger's second serve. Her winners outpaced her unforced errors 11-5, and she never faced a break point.
The run builds on a stretch that included a final in Bad Homburg and a quarterfinal at Wimbledon. Osaka credited her successful grass-court swing for easing her transition to the hard court this year.
"I think in that first practice back on a hard court, I finally realized why people said my game could suit a grass court because everything is a lot faster," she said.
On Friday, Osaka meets Elisabetta Cocciaretto, after the Italian knocked off No. 8 seed Emma Navarro in three sets earlier in the day.
