Naomi Osaka continues consistency struggles with Pan Pacific Open withdrawal

Naomi Osaka seemed to be heading in the right direction in hiring Patrick Mouratoglou and going on a run in their first tournament at the China Open. But since then, it has been a struggle to even get on the court.

Osaka who was confirmed to play the Hong Kong Open next earlier this week has since withdrawn from the Pan Pacific Open on Friday morning which is due to take place next week in Tokyo.

This means the former World No.1 won't return home to play for the first time in two years as a result. She has been sidelined since retiring from her last 16 match at the China Open against eventual champion Coco Gauff at the start of the month.

She then pulled out of the Japan Open in Osaka which no doubt would've been a crushing blow for many reasons. Especially with most of the big names withdrawing so in the latter stages, it is mainly lower ranked players battling for the title. Bianca Andreescu ended up the top name but lost in the first round to Greet Minnen.

She was then due to play in the Pan Pacific Open as a wildcard. But organizers have since said that she would be 'absent because of a lower back injury'. She has struggled for consistency since returning to tennis in January after the birth of her daughter Shai in July 2023. Her best results have been two Quarter-Final appearances.

Zheng Qinwen is the top seed at the Pan Pacific Open and is one of only a few top names not to withdraw after sealing qualification for the WTA Finals. But the Chinese ace will continue playing and hope to get one over her rivals in terms of a lack of rustiness. Daria Kasatkina and Beatriz Haddad Maia are also set to compete.