The fan favorite will no longer be able to compete for the title in her home country.
The crowd favorite is out: Japan’s tennis star Naomi Osaka (28) can no longer play in her home tournament in Osaka due to an injury to her left thigh. The former world number one and four-time Grand Slam winner will not be able to compete in her quarterfinal match against Romania’s Jaqueline Cristian on Friday due to the injury, according to the organizers.
Osaka sustained the injury on Wednesday during her hard-fought round of 16 victory over defending champion Suzan Lamens, and was even close to tears. Osaka had to finish the three-set match with a thick bandage on her left thigh and said afterwards that only painkillers had helped her get through the match.