Naomi Osaka Survives Injury Scare to Knock Out Defending Champion in Japan Open

First seed and home favorite Naomi Osaka is chasing her first title at the Japan Open.

Naomi Osaka Survives Injury Scare to Knock Out Defending Champion in Japan Open

Naomi Osaka injured his left leg during the Japan Open (Image via X/The Tennis Letter, edgeAI)

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Naomi Osaka did not book a spot in the Japan Open quarterfinals without much struggle. Up against her in the fourth round was defending champion Suzan Lamens, who gave tough competition to the home favorite from the very first set.

The first set, however, ended in favor of Osaka, but she couldn’t capitalize on the lead in the following set. Osaka then started the third set in an emphatic fashion as she raced to a 5-0 lead and was 30-15 when Lamens smashed a backhand shot. At that time, Osaka injured her left leg but still decided to play.

She clinched the next point but could not continue it further for a while. The four-time Grand Slam champion requested a medical timeout and came back with a strapped left thigh.

Though the injury affected her movement and she also missed two match points that saw Lamens win the sixth game, the Japanese ace had a huge lead, so it was difficult for the defending champion to make her comeback, and Osaka eventually secured a 7-6(6), 3-6, 6-2 win.

More to come…