Former world No.1 Naomi Osaka retired from her opening match at the WTA 1000 in Toronto on Tuesday due to back pain, raising concerns as the US Open approaches.
Estonian Kaia Kanepi was leading 7-6 (7/4), 3-0 when the four-time Grand Slam winner retired. Kanepi, a finalist last week in the Washington hard court tournament, broke the Japanese star three times in 71 minutes on the court.
«I had back pain from the start of the match and despite my efforts to overcome it, I couldn’t.said Osaka, in tears. “I would like to salute Kaia for her good game and wish her the best for the rest of the tournament».
Osaka has played just six games, going 2-4, since losing the WTA 1000 final in Miami in early April to world No.1 Iga Swiatek. The US Open, which Osaka won in 2018 and 2020, is due to take place from August 29 to September 11.
Kanepi, 37, had won their only previous encounter in three sets, five years ago at the US Open.
1st round (women’s singles):
Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS) beat Veronika Kudermetova (RUS) 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (7/3)
Belinda Bencic (SUI/N.12) beat Tereza Martincová (CZE) 6-4, 6-2
Kaia Kanepi (EST) beat Naomi Osaka (JPN) 7-6 (7/4), 3-0 (abandoned)
Amanda Anisimova (USA) beat Carol Zhao (CAN) 6-1, 6-3
Zheng Qinwen (CHN) bat Rebecca Marino (CAN) 3-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-4
Elise Mertens (BEL) beat Anna Bondár (HUN) 7-6 (7/2), 6-1
Camila Giorgi (ITA) beat Emma Raducanu (GBR/N.9) 7-6 (7/0), 6-2
Sara Sorribes Tormo (ESP) beat Claire Liu (USA) 7-6 (7/4), 2-6, 7-6 (7/5)
Cori Gauff (USA/N.10) beat Madison Brengle (USA) 6-1, 6-3
Zhang Shuai (CHN) beats Cristina Bucsa (ESP) 6-1, 6-3
