This was supposed to be Naomi Osaka’s week in Japan — her long-awaited homecoming at the Kinoshita Group Japan Open, where she looked ready to reconnect with her best form. Instead, the four-time Grand Slam champion’s run ended early when she withdrew before her quarterfinal with Jaqueline Cristian because of a left-leg injury.
Tournament organizers confirmed the news on X, writing:
“Naomi Osaka has not recovered from a left leg injury sustained during the second round of this tournament and has withdrawn from the quarterfinals scheduled for today.”- Japan Open 2025 official statement
The decision sends Jaqueline Cristian into the semifinals by walkover.
Osaka’s week began with a 6-0, 6-4 win over fellow Japanese player Wakana Sonobe and continued with a battling victory against Suzan Lamens, where she led 7-6(6), 3-6, 5-0 before pulling up in pain. She still closed out the match but couldn’t continue further.
This Friday morning, Osaka chose caution over risk, ending her first WTA appearance in Japan since 2022 and leaving Leylah Fernandez as the top seed remaining.
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Key takeaways
- Event: Kinoshita Group Japan Open 2025
- Headline: Naomi Osaka withdraws before quarterfinal vs Jaqueline Cristian
- Reason: Left leg injury sustained in the second round
- Impact: Cristian advances; Leylah Fernandez now top seed remaining
Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.
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