Naomi Osaka pulls out of Japan Open quarterfinals with leg injury

New Delhi: Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka has pulled out of her quarterfinal match at the Japan Open on Friday due to a left leg injury. Osaka's withdrawal ahead of the quarterfinal clash helped Jaqueline Cristian advance to the semifinals on a walkover, according to the WTA Tour.

Tournament organisers claimed that the top-seeded Osaka couldn't recover from the injury, which she sustained late in her second-round match. Osaka's loss became the gain of Cristiana, who will make her third semifinal appearance of the year and her first on a surface other than clay.

Osaka's campaign, which began brightly, with wins over Wakana Sonobe and 2024 champion Suzan Lamens, was halted by the unfortunate injury.

Lamens gave Osaka a tough fight in the second-round clash, with both players splitting the first two sets before Osaka used her experience in the decider to race to a 5-0 lead. However, things took a dramatic turn in the third during a rally with Lamens serving at 0-5 and 30-15.

Osaka pulled up with an apparent injury in her left leg. Though Osaka won the point, she requested a medical timeout after the next point.

The four-time Grand Slam champion returned to the court with her left thigh wrapped. Though she struggled with her movement, the local favourite was able to close out on her third match point.

The early exit at the Japan Open is yet another disappointment for the tennis superstar in 2025. She lost in the second round of the China Open in late September and suffered a second-round loss at the Wuhan Open last week.

In another quarterfinal clash, 2021 U.S. Open finalist Leylah Fernandez defeated Rebecca Sramkova 7-6 (2), 6-3. Osaka's exit leaves fourth-seeded Leylah Fernandez as the highest-seeded player remaining in the tournament.

World number 16 Osaka now faces a race against time to be fit for the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo next week.