Naomi Osaka’s return to singles competition in her home country came to an abrupt halt as she withdrew from the quarterfinals of the Kinoshita Group Japan Open. The four-time Grand Slam champion sustained a left leg injury during her second-round match against defending champion Suzan Lamens. Despite winning that match in three sets, Osaka required a medical timeout and returned to the court with her thigh heavily strapped.
“Naomi Osaka has not recovered from a left leg injury sustained during the second round of this tournament and has withdrawn from the quarterfinals scheduled for today,” read the tournament’s official statement.
Cristian Reaches Third Semifinal of the Season
With Osaka unable to compete, Romania’s Jaqueline Cristian advances to the semifinals via walkover. This marks Cristian’s third semifinal appearance of the 2025 season and her first on a surface other than clay. She will face either Tereza Valentova or Olga Danilovic in the next round.
Cristian’s consistent form this year has positioned her as a rising contender on the WTA Tour, and her progress in Osaka adds to a growing list of strong performances.
Osaka’s Resilience and Emotional Return
Osaka’s participation in the Japan Open was her first singles appearance in her native country in three years. Her second-round victory was marked by emotional moments, as she fought through pain and fatigue to close out the match.
“It was definitely really difficult. I’m kind of sorry about my attitude,” Osaka said in a brief on-court interview after defeating Lamens.
Despite the setback, Osaka’s presence in the tournament was warmly received by fans, and her determination to compete through injury highlighted her commitment to returning to top form.
Osaka in Osaka, ranking, and results in 2025
Currently ranked no.16, Naomi has managed to achieve a compiled 35-15 record in 2025. Osaka is now playing in Osaka where she defeated the world no.266 Wakana Sonobe 6-0 6-4, the world no.57 Suzan Lamens 7-6(6) 3-6 6-2 and the world no.47 Jaqueline Cristian w/o.