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Naomi Osaka hasn’t had the best of seasons this year. She is yet to win a title this season. Further, in her solitary final appearance in 2022, she lost in the summit clash of the Miami Open against Iga Swiatek.

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Apart from an inconsistent run in the tournaments, Osaka has also suffered multiple injury setbacks this year. Earlier this season, she suffered an Achilles injury that forced her to miss some big tournaments like Wimbledon. Recently, she displayed her human side during her match at the Toray Pan Pacific Open Tennis in her native country.

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Naomi Osaka wishes Daria Saville a speedy recovery

The four-time Grand Slam champion is in Tokyo to participate in the WTA 500 Toray Pan Pacific Open Tennis. During her first-round match against Daria Saville, an unfortunate incident occurred. Her Australian opponent fell off injured towards the start of the match which forced her to retire. Subsequently, Naomi rushed to help her.

DIVE DEEPER: ‘I Felt Very Anxious’- Naomi Osaka Says She Does Not Want To Lose in the First Round of the US Open 2022

As Daria Saville retired, Naomi wished her a speedy recovery.

Subsequently, she also had a message for her Australian opponent. Osaka said, “Hi Daria, it’s Naomi. I just wanted to wish you the best. I hope you’re doing better, I just want to let you know, you’re one of the funniest people on the Tour and I still remember all the nice things that you said to me at the French (Open) this year.”

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USA Today via Reuters

Further, she added, “I want you to know that I’m wishing you the best. I hope that it’s not a major injury at all and you’ll bounce back, because I know that’s what you’re good at.” 

Who will Osaka face next in Tokyo?

After her first-round match that lasted just 14 minutes, Osaka will take on Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia in the round-of-16. The latter is the fifth seed at the tournament and defeated Yuki Naito in straight sets in the opening round.

Watch this story – When Naomi Osaka encountered difficult interaction with the press

Can Osaka win the first title this season in her native country? Let us know your views in the comments below.

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Vatsal Shah

3,705 Articles

Vatsal Shah is a tennis journalist at EssentiallySports, covering ATP and WTA storylines from the ES Trends Desk since 2023. He delivers breaking insights on major tournaments and player arcs, decoding tactical shifts and viral moments into accessible takeaways for fans worldwide. His coverage of Taylor Townsend’s Dubai title win stood out for capturing both the emotional significance of her victory and the context of her comeback. Drawing on his background as a recreational player, Vatsal adds a courtside perspective to his reporting, bringing depth and authenticity to Grand Slam coverage for the ES News Center. By combining sharp observation with a clear, engaging writing style, he ensures that key tennis moments are not only reported but truly understood. Fluent in English, French, and German, as well as three Indian languages, Gujarati, Hindi, and Marathi, Vatsal connects with a diverse global readership. With his mix of linguistic reach, analytical insight, and passion for the sport, he is carving a niche as a fresh, incisive voice in tennis journalism.

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Ankit Sharma

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