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Naomi Osaka - Roland Garros 2024
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Naomi Osaka reveals ‘unfortunate’ reason for Beijing retirement


Naomi Osaka has updated concerned fans about her injury, after the former World No.1 retired from her China Open match against Coco Gauff.

Osaka led Gauff by a set and a break, 6-3 4-3, but lost three consecutive games before retiring from the match.

The 26-year-old had requested a medic earlier in the match, and took to social media to explain the injury.

“Hi everyone, I just wanted to say I’m extremely thankful and happy to have played in Beijing. That being said I feel like I owe little backstory about today,” explained Osaka.

“So I locked my back up during practice earlier and honestly wasn’t sure if I could even play but I just wanted to try. Unfortunately things just got progressively worse during the match. Totally worth it though.”

After Osaka retired from the match, Gauff helped carry her bags and walked with the four-time Grand Slam champion off court.

The American went onto wish her opponent well in the on-court interview, “It was a good match up until this point. I wish Naomi a speedy recovery. No one wants to win a match like this. Especially at one-set all.

“Overall I tried my best. It wasn’t my best tennis.. It was one of those matches where you try your best each point.”

Despite the abrupt end to the China Open for Osaka, she has still collected 120 ranking points and on Monday will become Japanese No.1 again.

If the injury is not too severe, Osaka will now head to the WTA 1000 event in Wuhan to play qualifying unless she receives a wildcard.

Inside the baseline…

Naomi Osaka was in control against Coco Gauff in what would have definitely been her biggest win since returning to the WTA Tour at the start of this year, but the back issue and the grit of her opponent just proved too much in the end. The good thing is that it appears to only be a temporary problem and hopefully Osaka can show more of his form at the Wuhan Open next week.

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Matthew Johns, Tennishead Writer, is a professional tennis journalist with a specialist degree in Sports Journalism. He's a keen tennis player having represented his local club and University plus he's also a qualified tennis coach. Matthew has a deep knowledge of tennis especially the ATP Tour and thrives on breaking big tennis news stories for Tennishead.