Japanese tennis player Naomi Osaka, former world No.1, withdrew from the Tokyo tournament on Thursday, citing abdominal pain.
The 24-year-old was due to meet Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia for the second round but was forced to drop out, explaining that her “body does not allow himto defend his chances.
«It’s an honor to be able to play the Toray Pan Pacific Open, in front of all these amazing fans, here in Japansaid Osaka, quoted in a statement from tournament organizers.
«This tournament has always been, and will remain, a special tournament for me and I would have liked to enter the court today but my body does not allow me.“, she added, promising to return in 2023.
Osaka, 48th player in the world, is struggling to regain the level that allowed her to win four Grand Slam tournaments. She was eliminated in the first round of the Cincinnati tournament and then the US Open in August after dropping out in her opening match in Toronto on August 10 due to back pain.
She had also qualified for the 2nd round of the Tokyo tournament – of which she is the title holder of the last edition played in 2019 – following the abandonment of her opponent, the Australian Daria Saville, injured on one knee.
SEE ALSO – The first training of the Blues before facing Austria this Thursday
