Naomi Osaka battles through tears to make Japan Open Quarter-Finals

Naomi Osaka may have reached the Quarter-Finals of the Japan Open but whether or not she actually returns to play her match in Osaka remains to be seen with a serious injury scare for the top seed as she saw off defending champion Suzan Lamens on Wednesday.

Osaka came out on top in a 7-6(6), 3-6, 6-2 battle with Lamens but suffered an injury scare in the latter half of the match that left her limping off court at the Japan Open.

It was high quality throughout between the pair but it was a storm that Osaka seemed to have weathered against the Dutchwoman who was chiefly dangerous due to the fact that she claimed the title last year. She raised her level to pull away in the third set but with Lamens down 5-0 but up 30-15, disaster all but struck for Osaka as she pulled up on her left leg. Lamens sprayed a backhand out wide but won the next as Osaka then requested a medical time-out.

She returned to the court with her thigh heavily strapped and her movement was significantly hampered. Osaka was visibly distressed as she tried to minimise the points and stop extended rallies to stop it getting worse. She failed to take match points on her own serve at 5-1 double faulting on the first and hitting a backhand straight into the net on the second. However she was able to get over the line on return with Lamens unable to take advantage of her being physically hampered.

"It was definitely really difficult -- I'm kind of sorry about my attitude," Osaka said in an on-court interview albeit it was an interview she had to cut short due to her injury.

She is playing her first tournament since reaching the US Open semi-finals where she lost to Amanda Anisimova. She was set to be favourite this week after also reaching the Canada Open final earlier this summer and also being the top name by some distance in Osaka as well as a home hope.

Elsewhere in Osaka on Wednesday, Jaqueline Cristian came back successfully after losing the opening set 6-0 to see off Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-4, 6-2 in the remaining two sets. She is slated to face Osaka now albeit could go straight through to the semi-finals if Osaka's pain is an issue.

Olga Danilovic also came through against Ashlyn Krueger 6-4, 6-4 in the other tie to finish this morning. Sorana Cirstea also looks well on her way against Katie Boulter. She won the first set 6-3 and is a set and a double break up sat at 4-0 and serving to go one away in the second.