Four-time slam queen Naomi Osaka was just getting started with her newfound confidence. After having stellar runs in Montreal and New York – where she reached the US Open semis after five years – it seemed like the Japanese WTA star was back. However, the journey forward seems shaky for the 28-year-old tennis mom. An unfortunate update may leave her avid fans in shambles this week just when she was getting set to dominate the court in Osaka.

Naomi Osaka has pulled out of the Japan Open before Friday’s quarterfinal because of a leg injury sustained in the second round against defending champion Suzan Lamens. On Wednesday, at the ongoing WTA 250 event, she had beaten Lamens in a tough three-set battle with a scoreline of 7-6(6), 3-6, 6-2, holding back tears and relying on painkillers to see it through. Top-seeded Osaka completed the match with a strapping on her left thigh, but her mobility was visibly limited.

She was due to face Romania’s Jaqueline Cristian in the quarterfinals, but the Japanese star’s withdrawal meant Cristian automatically progressed to the semifinals. The Japan Open organizers confirmed the news on X, saying: “We regret to announce that Naomi Osaka has not recovered from a left leg injury sustained during the second round of this tournament and has withdrawn from the quarter-finals scheduled for today.” It all started against Lamens when Osaka had requested a medical timeout (MTO) after feeling a leg issue.

After receiving treatment, she returned to the court, finishing the match despite visible limitations in movement and strapping on her left thigh. During the press conference, she admitted, “I took Advils, so I think it feels better than what it is right now, but obviously it doesn’t feel good.” She had optimistically added, “I couldn’t really move that well. It’s not good, but I think I’m a fast healer, so it should be OK for my next match.” Sadly, it was not, as her withdrawal confirmed.

This unfortunate fate will hurt the Japanese star, who was playing at home. For the uninitiated, it was her first campaign at the Japan Open since 2017. Also, it was her best one yet, making it to the last eight. On past occasions, she couldn’t move past the R16.

Following the withdrawal, Osaka announced the end of her 2025 season on Instagram, writing: “And that’s a wrap on my year. Great year, everybody. Let’s do it again next year. Maybe a little differently. But yeah, it was fun… See you in Australia.”

Osaka’s withdrawal is part of a worrying trend of late-season injuries among top players. This year alone, stars like Emma Raducanu, Daria Kasatkina, Elina Svitolina, and Paula Badosa have all cut their seasons short, dealing with injuries or taking time off to recover. Iga Swiatek had already spoken out about the tour being “too long and too intense,” with the brutal heat and humidity in Asia making it even tougher. Just last week, five players retired across two tournaments in China.

All of this highlights how demanding the 11-month calendar can be. Ranked 16 in the current WTA rankings, she lost in the second round of the Wuhan Open last week and at the same round in the China Open last month. But while her journey at the Japan Open might be over, she will look to keep striving toward her main goal of 2025 in upcoming events.

Naomi Osaka wants to shine in the top 10 once again

The former World No.1, who started this season in January as World No.50, has come a long way in the last few months. Especially when it comes to making huge leaps in the WTA rankings. In the first half of this year, her performance was mostly underwhelming, to say the least. Across many events, she couldn’t clear the early rounds. Her only title came during a low, 125-level challenger tournament in Saint Malo.

In the second half of 2025, however, Osaka had shown tremendous improvement. At the Canadian Open, she went on to reach the summit clash before losing to teenage sensation Victoria Mboko. And then came the historic US Open campaign. Osaka dominated her rivals on the court to prove she is still capable of delivering scintillating performances. There remained no doubt about it when she edged out former US Open winner and American star Coco Gauff in the fourth round.

Looking at her newfound consistency, even 23-time slam queen Serena Williams’ childhood coach Rick Macci claimed that she could break into the top 10 once again sooner than later. Making a bold statement, he said, “She can be back in the top ten by year end. Naomi Osaka has the juice, but her court position has been loose. Her overall tactics have been wrong has to play too much D and hits long. If she has a proven focused voice, then when she launches, she will make a better choice.”

Osaka herself is looking to accomplish this objective by the end of the season. “Of course, I want to end the year in the top 10, but I don’t want to stress myself out too much about it.” It will be intriguing to see whether she can really achieve her goal before 2026.