Naomi Osaka has revealed that a back injury forced her to retire during the fourth round of the China Open. The Japanese player was two games into the deciding set of her match against Coco Gauff when she decided to withdraw.
Osaka won the first set 6-3 before Gauff levelled by winning the second 6-4. Fans were anticipating an exciting deciding set, but it lasted only two games before being called to a halt.
The 26-year-old has explained that she was worsening a back injury by continuing to compete against Gauff. Taking to social media, Osaka revealed that she ‘locked’ her back during a practice session earlier today (Tuesday).
“Hi everyone, I just wanted to say I’m extremely thankful and happy to have played in Beijing. That being said I feel like I owe little backstory about today,” Osaka posted on her Threads account before sharing to her Instagram story.
“So I locked my back up during practice earlier and honestly wasn’t sure if I could even play but I just wanted to try. Unfortunately things just got progressively worse during the match. Totally worth it though.”
Gauff – who is through to the quarter-final and will face Ukraine’s Yulia Starodubtsewa – was praised for her reaction after being informed that Osaka could not continue. The 20-year-old American carried her opponent’s bag off the court, ensuring the world No. 73 had a comfortable departure to her locker room.
She returned to conduct her post-match media duties and admitted that she did not want to win under such circumstances.
Gauff said on court: “It was a good match up until this point. I wish Naomi a speedy recovery. No one wants to win a match like this.
“Especially at one set-all. Overall I tried my best. It wasn’t my best tennis. It was one of those matches where you try your best each point.”
Gauff, who is the WTA world No. 6 has enjoyed a positive run in China. The one-time Grand Slam champion defeated Briton Katie Boulter in the third round, having already beaten Clara Burel of France.
It comes after Gauff decided to make a change to her coaching set-up in the aftermath of her underwhelming US Open campaign. She parted ways with the veteran mentor Brad Gilbert and appointed Matt Daly to work alongside her long-term coach Jean-Christophe Faurel.
