OSAKA: Naomi Osaka pulled out of the Japan Open ahead of her quarter-final on Friday after the four-time Grand Slam champion failed to recover from a leg injury.

The former world number one was tearful after struggling through her last-16 match against defe­n­ding champion Suzan Lam­ens in Osaka on Wednesday.

Top seed Osaka, who turned 28 this week, was supposed to face Romania’s Jaqueline Cristian in the last eight.

“We regret to announce that Naomi Osaka has not recovered from a left leg injury sustained during the second round of this tournament and has withdrawn from the quarter-finals scheduled for today,” the tournament said on X.

Osaka finished her three-set defeat of Lamens with heavy strapping on her left thigh and said afterwards that only painkillers had helped her get through the match.

Osaka is supposed to play in the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo next week.

The world number 16 has enjoyed an encouraging season after returning to the tour in 2024 following a maternity break but the injury casts doubts over her participation in the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo later this month.

Meanwhile, Leylah Fer­n­a­ndez — who became the highest-seeded player after Osaka’s exit — built on her form as she beat Rebecca Sramkova 7-6(7/2), 6-3.

The Canadian booked her place in the semi-finals with a composed and tactical victory over the Slova­kian. This win marks anot­her high point in Ferna­ndez’s growing season, which has already seen her clinch the WTA Washin­gton title earlier in the year.

Fernandez will next face Sorana Cristea as the Roma­nian defeated Switz­e­rland’s Viktorija Golubic 6-2, 2-6, 6-2.

In the day’s last quarter-final, Czech qualifier Ter­eza Valentova, 18, came from a set down to defeat No 6 seed Olga Danilovic of Serbia 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.

Published in Dawn, October 18th, 2025