Naomi Osaka’s return to tennis has sparked both excitement and disappointment, with supporters receiving devastating news about her fitness. Osaka reached the fourth round of the China Open, her season’s first Asian swing tournament. Naomi initially dominated against the formidable Coco Gauff, winning the opening set 6-3. However, as the match went, it became evident that she was dealing with a back problem. And today, despite her best efforts to heal and regain her form, Osaka is still struggling with her health.
The aftermath of Osaka’s injury has been quick and depressing. Tennis journalist Jose Morgado tweeted, “Terrible news,” stating that Osaka had withdrawn from both the Wuhan Open and the next Japan Open in Tokyo. It is scheduled to take place from October 14 to 20, 2024. Unfortunately, her fans will miss out on seeing their favourite player perform in her native nation.
Naomi Osaka has had a terrible time. She had great expectations for her season after returning from maternity leave, but the trip has been plagued with hurdles. After welcoming her daughter in July 2023, the four-time Grand Slam champion returned to competitive tennis in January 2024. While she initially showed promise, including a great showing in the China Open when she advanced to the fourth round, injuries have hampered her recent attempts.
Terrible news.
Naomi Osaka, who retired in Beijing last week, withdraws from Tokyo.
Also out of Wuhan this week. https://t.co/5rmskjI0Qq
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) October 7, 2024
In a passionate Instagram post, Osaka emphasised her disappointment over losing out on these tournaments. She explained that she had felt “locked up” throughout practice and wanted to give it an attempt despite not knowing her condition.
She remarked, “Hello everyone, I just wanted to say how grateful and thrilled I am to having played in Beijing. That being said, I feel like I owe you a little context about today: I locked my back up during practice earlier and wasn’t sure if I could even play, but I wanted to give it a shot; sadly, things only got worse throughout the match. Totally worth it, though lol.”
Her withdrawal from the Japan Open is particularly disappointing given her emotional connection with the local fans. With fellow players and an ever-loyal fanbase cheering her on, there’s hope that Osaka will come back stronger than ever in future competitions.
The WTA audience receives a nice moment amidst the chaos.
Coco Gauff, who displayed incredible sportsmanship following Naomi Osaka’s mid-match resignation from the China Open, added a touch of sympathy to the tragic scenario. Gauff offered to help take her injured opponent’s baggage off the court.
The fans applauded this sweet moment as Gauff made sure Osaka was comfortable as she left the court. Gauff later wished Osaka a swift recovery, saying, “It was a wonderful match up to this moment. I wish Naomi rapid recovery. Nobody wants to win a match like this. Especially at one set all. Overall, I did my best. I didn’t play my best tennis. It was one of those matchups where you gave your all at every point.”
About The Author
