Top seed Naomi Osaka battled through an injury scare to defeat defending champion Suzan Lamens 7-6 (8/6), 3-6, 6-2 and advance to the quarterfinals of the Japan Open. Playing in her home country for the first time in three years, Osaka was visibly hampered by pain, leaving her in tears after securing the final point. The win sets up a last-eight clash with Romania’s Jaqueline Cristian.
The match took a turn when Osaka, leading 5-0 in the deciding set, pulled up with a left leg injury. She immediately called for a medical timeout and received treatment, returning to the court with her thigh heavily strapped. Her movement was significantly restricted, and she went on to lose the next two games before finally converting her third match point with a backhand winner. After the 2-hour, 20-minute contest, she appeared emotional and walked to the net fighting back tears.
In a brief on-court interview that was cut short due to her discomfort, Osaka apologized for her demeanor. "It was definitely really difficult. I'm kind of sorry about my attitude," she said before adding, "Can I go? My leg is really hurting." Later in her press conference, she expressed optimism about her ability to continue in the tournament. "I took Advils, so I think it feels better than what it is right now, but obviously it doesn't feel good," Osaka stated. "I couldn't really move that well... but I think I'm a fast healer so it should be OK for my next match."
Prior to the injury, the match was a high-quality, back-and-forth affair. After trading breaks in a tight opening set that Osaka clinched in a tiebreak, Lamens fought back to claim the second. Osaka explained her approach to the final set, where she raced to a lead before the injury struck. "Emotionally, I was going through a lot in this match," she said. "And then in the third set I tried my best to have no regrets."
The 27-year-old, currently ranked 16th in the world, is competing in her first tournament since reaching the US Open semifinals. Having returned to the tour in early 2024 after giving birth to her daughter, the four-time Grand Slam champion is seeking to build momentum. Her quarterfinal match against Jaqueline Cristian is scheduled for Friday.
