Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka exits match at Toronto Open with back injury


Toronto: Naomi Osaka’s latest problems continued on Tuesday, with her early exit from the National Bank Open.

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“I felt my back from the start of the match, and despite trying to push through it, I just wasn’t able to today,” Osaka declared. “I’d like to pay credit to Kaia for playing well and want to wish her all the best for the rest of the tournament.”

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In the lead-up to the event, Osaka was eliminated in her last three matches during the first or the second round, which included a straight-sets defeat to Coco Gauff in the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic.

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It was her first competition following her winning the French Open as she recovered from an Achilles injury.

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Before that She had her most successful event of the year, reaching the semi-finals stage of the Miami Open in early April before falling to the world number one Iga Swiatek.

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The other match was also a success. the 10th seeded Gauff defeated her fellow American Madison Brenglem 6-1, 6-1; China’s ZhengQinwen beat Canada’s Rebecca Marino, 3-6, 7-6 (5) 7-6 (4)

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Osaka struggled with unforced mistakes and suffered five double-faults in the first set. She was able to win the opening game by virtue of three unforced errors by Kanepi however, Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion lost her energy after she was up by 2-1.

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Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka exits match at Toronto Open with back injury

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