Naomi Osaka’s injury-plagued season continues, withdraws from Pan Pacific Open due to illness

The four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka has withdrawn from the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo ahead of her second-round match.

The reigning champion Osaka, who was scheduled to play No.16 Beatriz Haddad Maia, took the decision owing to illness. Subsequently, Haddad Maia received a walkover and has advanced to the quarterfinals. The No.16 player will either play No.4 seed Veronika Kudermetova or Mexican qualifier Fernanda Contreras Gomez.

“I am really sorry that I am not able to compete today,” Osaka said in a statement. “It’s an honor to be able to play at the Toray Pan Pacific Open in front of the amazing fans here in Japan.

“This has and always will be a special tournament for me and I wish I could have stepped on court today, but my body won’t let me. Thank you for all your support this week and I will see you next year,” the Japanese star added.

Osaka had earlier said that she was feeling fit and healthy after going through an extended injury-plagued season, which forced her to pull out of the 2022 Wimbledon.

“I think of course the year has been not the best year for me but I think overall I’ve learned a lot about myself,” Osaka said.

“I’m happy to be healthy because in Europe I did injure myself and that was the first injury that took me that long to get healed. I think life is ups and downs and this one was more down than up but overall I’m happy with where I am right now.”

Osaka suffered a first-round exit at the US Open after losing to Danielle Collins in straight sets. Earlier this year, Osaka also crashed out of the French Open in the first round and saw her campaign end in the third round of the Australian Open.