OSAKA, Japan — Naomi Osaka has withdrawn from her quarterfinal encounter at the Japan Open due to a left leg injury.
This decision paved the way for Jaqueline Cristian to advance to the semifinals via a walkover, as confirmed by the WTA Tour.
Tournament officials noted that top-seeded Osaka was unable to recover from an injury she sustained late in her second-round match. For Cristian, this marks her third semifinal appearance of the year, and notably, her first on a surface other than clay.
Prior to her injury, Osaka secured victories over Wakana Sonobe and the 2024 champion, Suzan Lamens.
After splitting the opening sets against Lamens, Osaka surged ahead with a commanding 5-0 lead in the third. However, during a rally while Lamens was serving at 0-5 and 30-15, Osaka appeared to aggravate her left leg. Though she won the point after Lamens sent a backhand wide, she promptly requested a medical timeout following the next point.
Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, returned to the court with her left thigh wrapped and exhibited reduced movement but managed to clinch the match on her third match point.
In late September, Osaka fell in the second round of the China Open and suffered another second-round exit at the Wuhan Open the week prior.
In other quarterfinal action at the Japan Open on Friday, 2021 U.S. Open finalist Leylah Fernandez triumphed over Rebecca Šramková with a score of 7-6 (2), 6-3.
