Naomi Osaka overcame injury to secure her place in the quarterfinals of the Japan Open, defeating defending champion Suzan Lamens. The emotional victory saw Osaka battling through discomfort in her left leg.
The four-time Grand Slam champion is competing in her first tournament in Japan in three years and aims to build on her recent success at the US Open.
The former world No 1 was leading 5-0 in the final set in Osaka when she required a medical timeout to receive treatment on her left leg.
She returned with heavy strapping on her thigh and lost the next two games before closing out the match in 2 hours and 20 minutes.
Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, hit a backhand winner before bending over and placing her hand to her face, appearing to fight back tears as she walked to the net.
“It was definitely really difficult. I’m somewhat sorry about my attitude,” Osaka said in an on-court interview that had to be cut short due to her injury.
The 27-year-old is competing in her first tournament since reaching the US Open semifinals, where she lost to Amanda Anisimova of the United States. Osaka has not advanced to the second week of a major tournament since winning the Australian Open for a second time in 2021.
