Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka has pulled out of the upcoming Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, citing a lower back injury. This marks the second consecutive tournament withdrawal for the Japanese tennis star, following her exit from the Japan Open in Osaka.
Osaka’s injury woes began earlier this month when she retired from her China Open match against Coco Gauff. Her participation in the China Open marked her first tournament under new coach Patrick Mouratoglou, renowned for his successful partnership with Serena Williams.
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Since returning to tennis in January after giving birth to her daughter Shai, Osaka has struggled to regain her form, achieving only two quarter-final appearances. The 27-year-old former world number one was set to compete at the Pan Pacific Open as a wild card entry.
The tournament will now feature China’s Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen, ranked seventh in the world, as its top seed. Other notable competitors include Russia’s Daria Kasatkina and Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia.
The four-time Grand Slam champion from Japan withdrew from next week’s Toray Pan Pacific Open 2024 in Tokyo citing a lower back injury, tournament organisers said on Friday (18 October).
Just two days after turning 27, Osaka withdrew from another home Open due to the injury that has plagued her since the China Open in Beijing, where she retired after two sets in her round of 16 match against Coco Gauff on 1 October.
Osaka then withdrew from the ongoing Japan Open in Osaka, but the former world No. 1 currently ranked 58th evidently has yet to heal.
The final torchbearer for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 was hoping to play in her first Pan Pacific Open in two years as a wild card. Osaka had her first child in July 2023, giving birth to a baby girl.
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