Tennis

Naomi Osaka Withdraws From Toray Pan Pacific Open

Sentinel Digital Desk

TOKYO: Reigning champion Naomi Osaka withdrew from the Toray Pan Pacific Open ahead of her second-round match against No.16 Beatriz Haddad Maia due to illness. Haddad Maia advanced to the quarterfinals by walkover and will face No.4 seed Veronika Kudermetova, who dispatched qualifier Fernanda Contreras Gomez 6-0, 6-1 in just 56 minutes.

"I am really sorry that I am not able to compete today," Osaka said in a statement.

"It's an honour to be able to play at the Toray Pan Pacific Open in front of the amazing fans here in Japan. This has and always will be a special tournament for me and I wish I could have stepped on court today, but my body won't let me. Thank you for all your support this week and I will see you next year."

A champion in 2019 when the tournament was temporarily held in Osaka, the former No.1 advanced to the second round this year after Daria Saville was forced to retire in the first round due to knee injury. IANS

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