Abdominal pain forces Naomi Osaka to withdraw from Tokyo event

• Naomi Osaka withdrew from the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo
• She was due for second-round match against Beatriz Haddad Maia
• She complained of intense abdominal pain

Former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka withdrew from the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo before her second-round match against Beatriz Haddad Maia owing to abdominal pain.

Her decision to withdraw from the Tokyo event ended her title defense at her home tournament. The four-time Grand Slam winner expressed her regret at being unable to play today.

Osaka first won the tournament in 2019 in her Tokyo hometown. She said that it’s a privilege to compete in front of the incredible Toray Pan Pacific Open crowd in Japan.

However, her body wasn’t cooperating and she wished that things would be different to see her play to the end.

Naomi Osaka. Photo/Cara Owsley/The Cincinnati Enquirer via AP

This is the most recent setback for the 24-year-old, who had to sit out the entire grasscourt season due to an Achilles ailment. She had to withdraw from her first-round match in Toronto due to a back problem and it resurfaced during the U.S Open.

When Australian Daria Saville withdrew in the second game of their opening-round match on Monday due to a torn ACL, Osaka advanced to the second round.

Osaka told the media before the competition that she has learnt a lot about herself although the year isn’t as good as she thought. Even with the abdominal pain, she is glad to be well because she hurt herself for the first time in Europe, and it took a long time to heal.

With the year’s challenges, she couldn’t be happier with where her life is at the moment. Osaka crashed out of the U.S Open 2022 after losing to Australian Open finalist Danielle Collins 7-6 (5) 6-3.

In August, Osaka was defeated by Zhang Shuai of China 6-4, 7-5 at the Cincinnati Open dealing a major blow to her preparations for the U.S. Open which she crashed out in the first round.

Osaka has had a rocky comeback from an Achilles injury, having already been eliminated in the first round in Toronto a week before due to lower back issues and this being only her third tournament back.

Zhang, who won the doubles title in Cincinnati last year, finally won the singles title in the city for the first time since 2014.

The Chinese player described Osaka as a fantastic player adding that she was not at her finest at the game.

Osaka of Japan, playing in the opening match on Centre Court, got things off to a slow start by double-faulting on her opening serve, giving Zhang a break.

Naomi Osaka. Photo/Eurosport

Zhang, 33, won the first set with the help of the early break. She then went on to win the match after taking a 2-1 lead in the second set thanks to Osaka’s persistent ineptitude.

At 5-4 in the final set, Osaka eventually broke through to even the score, only to have her opponent, Zhang, respond by breaking back and taking the lead.

Osaka split with her and her coach Wim Fissette in July 2022 after a three-year stint. Fissette termed his tenure with Osaka as a privilege and wished her the best in her career.

She won the Australian Open in 2021 and the 2020 U.S Open through his coaching.