Tokyo [Japan], September 22 (ANI): The defending champion Naomi Osaka has introduced her withdrawal from the continuing Pan Pacific Open as a consequence of sickness.
Her withdrawal comes forward of her second-round match in opposition to Number 16 Beatriz Haddad Maia.
“I am really sorry that I am not able to compete today. It is 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 the court today, but my body would not let me. Thank you for all your support this week and I will see you next year,” Osaka was quoted as saying by WTA in a press release on Thursday.
Following this announcement, Haddad Maia has superior to the quarterfinals through walkover. She will face both No.4 seed Veronika Kudermetova or Mexican qualifier Fernanda Contreras Gomez within the QFs.
Osaka is the defending champion, clinching the title in 2019. No competitors may occur in 2020 and 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the continuing version of the event, Osaka superior to the second spherical after Daria Saville of Australia was compelled to retire owing to a knee harm throughout the first spherical.
Prior to the occasion, she had informed media that she was match and wholesome once more to contest after a season spent battling accidents.
“I think of course the year has been not the best year for me but I think overall I have learned a lot about myself. I am happy to be healthy because in Europe I did injure myself and that was the first injury that took me that long to get healed,” Osaka had mentioned.
“I think life is ups and downs and this one was more down than up but overall I am happy with where I am right now,” she had added.
The ongoing version of the Pan Pacific Open shall be occurring from September 19 to September 25 this yr. (ANI)