CNN
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4-time grand slam champion Naomi Osaka withdrew from her second-round match in opposition to Beatriz Haddad Maia on the Pan Pacific Open on Thursday as a result of sickness, ending her title protection on the match.
“I’m actually sorry that I’m not in a position to compete at the moment,” Osaka mentioned in an announcement to the WTA.
“It’s an honor to have the ability to play on the Toray Pan Pacific Open in entrance of the superb followers right here in Japan. This has and at all times will likely be a particular match for me and I want I may have stepped on courtroom at the moment, however my physique gained’t let me. Thanks for all of your help this week and I’ll see you subsequent 12 months”
The previous world No. 1 was affected by belly ache, Reuters reported, after she superior to the second spherical when her opponent Daria Saville suffered a knee harm.
Osaka has endured an injury-plagued season, failing to win a couple of match at a single match since she reached the ultimate of the Miami Open in April.
She withdrew from the semifinals of the Melbourne Summer time Set 1 match in January with an belly harm, missed all the grass courtroom season as a result of an Achilles harm and withdrew from her opening match of the Canadian Open with a again harm.
“This 12 months has not been the perfect 12 months for me, however I’ve discovered loads about myself,” Osaka instructed reporters earlier than the beginning of the Pan Pacific Open.
“Life is ups and downs, and this 12 months was extra down than up, however total, I’m fairly proud of the place I’m now.”
As a consequence of her harm issues this 12 months, Osaka has fallen from world No. 13 in January to world No. 48 and has not gained a grand slam because the 2021 Australian Open.
“It was type of laborious at first, simply because I really feel like I must be someplace the place I’m clearly presently not,” she mentioned.
“I feel for me it’s extra about being at peace with myself. I do know that I’m right here for a purpose.”
Haddad Maia will now advance to the quarterfinals by walkover the place she is going to face both Veronika Kudermetova or Fernanda Contreras Gómez.
