Naomi Osaka battled through both injury and emotion to secure a place in the Japan Open quarter-finals on Wednesday, holding back tears after sealing victory against defending champion Suzan Lamens.
The top-seeded Osaka, competing in a singles event on home soil for the first time in three years, triumphed 7-6 (8/6), 3-6, 6-2 in an intense match that lasted over two hours. Her win sets up a quarter-final clash with Romania’s Jaqueline Cristian.
“Emotionally I was going through a lot in this match,” Osaka admitted after the game. “And then in the third set I tried my best to have no regrets.”
The former world number one appeared to be in control when leading 5-0 in the deciding set before calling for a medical timeout due to pain in her left leg. She returned to the court with her thigh heavily strapped, lost the next two games, but managed to close out the match in 2 hours and 20 minutes.
Osaka sealed victory with a powerful backhand winner, after which she bent over in visible relief, covering her face as tears welled up. Despite her struggles, the Japanese star managed to keep her composure and complete the win.
Speaking after the match, Osaka revealed that she had taken painkillers but admitted her leg “doesn’t feel good.”
“I couldn’t really move that well,” she said. “It’s not good, but I think I’m a fast healer so it should be OK for my next match.”
This tournament marks Osaka’s return to competition following her run to the semi-finals of the US Open, where she was defeated by American player Amanda Anisimova. The 27-year-old had not advanced beyond the early rounds of a major tournament since claiming her second Australian Open title in 2021.
Currently ranked 16th in the world, Osaka’s resilience in Osaka City has reignited hopes of a strong comeback season for the four-time Grand Slam champion.
What You Should Know
Naomi Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam winner and former world number one, continues her comeback journey after years marked by injury and mental health challenges.
Her emotional win at the Japan Open shows both her determination and connection with home fans, proving that she remains one of tennis’s most passionate competitors.
