Tokyo
Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka on Sunday night has announced her withdrawal from next month’s Billie Jean King Cup finals in Malaga, Spain, citing injury concerns. Osaka, currently ranked 58th in the world, sustained a lower back injury during her round-of-16 match against Coco Gauff at the China Open earlier in October. The injury forced her to retire from the match and withdraw from subsequent tournaments, including the Pan Pacific Open in Japan.
Osaka revealed that she has a bulging disc in her lower back and ruptured abdominal muscles, discovered after undergoing MRIs in Beijing and Los Angeles. “I thought I strained my back, but it turned out to be more serious,” she shared. Despite initial hopes of recovery, a follow-up MRI confirmed the injuries, prompting her decision to step back from the competition.
Reflecting on the Billie Jean King Cup, Osaka expressed her disappointment, highlighting her enjoyment of past participation. “It was definitely the toughest decision not to play this, but I have to focus on my recovery,” she said.
Osaka was instrumental in helping Japan qualify for the finals earlier this year by defeating Kazakhstan, marking her return to the competition after a four-year hiatus. She will now focus on her recovery, aiming to be ready for the Australian Open in January, while working closely with her coach, Patrick Mouratoglou.
