Naomi Osaka Pulls Out of Japan Open Quarterfinal Match

Injury forces Naomi Osaka's withdrawal from Japan Open

Naomi Osaka withdraws from Japan Open quarterfinals due to left leg injury sustained during second-round match against Suzan Lamens.

With Osaka's withdrawal, fourth seed Leylah Fernandez becomes the highest-seeded player remaining in the draw...

Naomi Osaka has withdrawn from the Japan Open quarterfinals due to a left leg injury, which she sustained during her second-round match. The four-time Grand Slam champion's withdrawal allows Jaqueline Cristian to advance to the semifinals by walkover.

Osaka struggled through her last-16 match against defending champion Suzan Lamens, requiring a medical timeout and heavy strapping on her left thigh. Despite her efforts, she was unable to recover from the injury and ultimately had to pull out of the tournament. Cristian, who will now face either Tereza Valentova or Olga Danilovic in the semifinals, expressed her excitement for the new opportunity.

“We regret to announce that Naomi Osaka has not recovered from a left leg injury sustained during the second round of this tournament and has withdrawn from the quarter-finals scheduled for today,” the tournament said on X.

Naomi Osaka's injury struggles continue. The Japanese tennis star pulled out of her Japan Open quarterfinal match against Jaqueline Cristian due to a left leg injury, which she sustained during her second-round match against Suzan Lamens.

Top seed Naomi Osaka has withdrawn from her home tournament with an injury. 🚨

Hope to see the 4x slam champ back on court soon. ❤️‍🩹#JapanOpen pic.twitter.com/sWdgRAZgCQ

— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) October 17, 2025

Osaka had battled through the pain to defeat Lamens 7-6(6), 3-6, 6-2, with heavy strapping on her left thigh. She had to request a medical timeout during the match, and it seems the injury is more serious than initially thought.

With Osaka's withdrawal, fourth seed Leylah Fernandez becomes the highest-seeded player remaining in the draw. Fernandez had a strong win over Rebecca Šramková in the quarterfinals, taking the match 7-6(2), 6-3.

As for Osaka's upcoming schedule, her participation in the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo next week is uncertain due to her current injury. The tournament organizers will likely assess her fitness before the event