The first women’s singles final of a WTA Masters event since the resumption of tennis ended with a withdrawal. World number 10 Naomi Osaka has pulled out of the Western and Southern Open final against Victoria Azarenka on Saturday. She cited a hamstring injury as her reason for the withdrawal. The injury comes for Osaka just two days before the US Open starts.

Azarenka wins her first title since the 2016 Miami Open and since becoming a mother, as a result. She also returns to the top 30 of the WTA rankings after a great week in New York City. She dropped just one set en route to the final.

Naomi Osaka reveals details of the injury

Naomi Osaka revealed that the injury occurred during the second set tie-break of her semi-final against Elise Mertens. It was a tense set and Osaka had to save numerous break-points throughout the set. She won the tie-break and the match in straight sets.

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“I’m sorry to have to withdraw today with an injury,” Osaka said after pulling out. “I pulled my left hamstring yesterday in the second set tiebreak and it has not recovered overnight as I had hoped. This has been an emotional week and I want to thank everyone for the outpouring of support,” Osaka added.  The Japanese star will reveal further details in her press conference.

Since the women’s singles final will not be played, the women’s doubles final is moved to the Louis Armstrong Stadium. It will take place after Azarenka will be given the trophy. The men’s final between Novak Djokovic and Milos Raonic will be not before 1 pm, as per the original schedule.

US Open participation in doubt

Osaka’s injury comes at the most inopportune time for her. The US Open begins on Monday and Osaka is one of the top contenders in the absence of so many top-10 contenders. Fellow Japanese Misaki Doi is her opponent in the first round. The injury puts her participation in doubt, at the event where she won her first Grand Slam in 2018.

At the Western and Southern Open, she beat Karolina Muchova, Dayana Yastremska, Anett Kontaveit, and Elise Mertens on her way to the final.