File photo of Naomi Osaka, who has withdrawn from the Japan Open with an injury | Photo credit: AP
Naomi Osaka withdrew from her quarterfinal match at the Japan Open on Friday (October 17, 2025) due to a left leg injury.
Her pre-match withdrawal allowed Jaqueline Cristian to advance to the semi-finals via a walkover, the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Tour said.
Tournament organizers said top-seeded Osaka had not recovered from the injury she suffered late in her second-round match. It will be Cristian’s third semi-final appearance of the year and her first on a surface other than clay.
Before the injury, Osaka was coming off wins over Wakana Sonobe and 2024 champion Suzan Lamens.
After sharing the first two sets with Lamens, Osaka took a 5-0 lead in the third. But during a rally with Lamens serving at 0-5 and 30-15, Osaka retired with an apparent problem with her left leg. She won the point after Lamens sent a backhand wide, but requested a medical timeout after the next point.
Osaka, a four-time major winner, returned to the court with her left thigh wrapped and movement restricted, but was able to close on her third match point.
Osaka lost in the second round of the China Open at the end of September and also lost in the second round at the Wuhan Open last week.
In another quarterfinal match on Friday (October 17, 2025) at the Japan Open, 2021 US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez defeated Rebecca Šramková 7-6 (2), 6-3.
Published – Oct 17, 2025 2:05 PM IST
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