Naomi Osaka has withdrawn from the Japan Open quarterfinals due to a left leg injury she sustained during her second-round match against Suzan Lamens.
She battled through the pain to win the match 7-6(6) 3-6 6-2, but the injury proved too severe, and she couldn’t continue in the tournament. Osaka’s withdrawal allowed Jaqueline Cristian to advance to the semifinals by walkover, and Leylah Fernandez is now the top seed remaining in the draw.
Osaka’s injury raises concerns about her participation in upcoming tournaments, including the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo next week and the Hong Kong Tennis Open in the final week of the season .
It’s worth noting that Osaka’s injury is part of a larger trend of players experiencing health issues during the Asian swing of tournaments. Several top players, including Emma Raducanu, Daria Kasatkina, Elina Svitolina, and Paula Badosa, have ended their seasons early due to injuries or health problems .
