Naomi Osaka: Grand Slam champion withdraws from Japan Open due to Emma Raducanu injury

Naomi Osaka withdrew from the Japan Open ahead of Friday’s quarterfinals due to a second-round leg injury.

The former world number one fought back tears and required painkillers as he beat defending champion Susan Lamens in three sets in the last 16 on Wednesday.

Top-seeded Osaka, who finished the match with a strap on her left thigh, was scheduled to face Jacqueline Christian in the quarter-finals, but the Romanian will advance to the semi-finals.

The Japan Open issued an announcement on the Xth day: “We regret to announce that Naomi Osaka injured her left leg in the second round of this competition and has not yet recovered, so she withdrew from the quarter-finals originally scheduled to be held today.”

It is unclear whether Osaka will participate in the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo later this month.

The four-time Grand Slam champion is the latest high-profile player to suffer late-season injuries.

In September, Iga Swiatek complained that the season was “too long and too intense” after a series of injuries to players at the China Open.

Britain’s top-ranked Emma Raducanu ended her season on Thursday after withdrawing from the first two matches due to illness.

Australia’s Daria Kasatkina, Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina and Spain’s Paula Badosa have also had their seasons ended prematurely in recent weeks.

Five players withdrew from two matches in China last week due to injuries.