Tearful Osaka Fights Through Injury to Reach Japan Open Quarter-Finals

Japan’s Naomi Osaka overcame both injury and emotion to reach the quarter-finals of the Japan Open on Wednesday, defeating defending champion Suzan Lamens in a tense three-set match.

Playing in her first singles tournament on home soil in three years, Osaka battled through a scoreline of 7-6 (8/6), 3-6, 6-2 to advance to the last eight, where she will face Romania’s Jaqueline Cristian. The victory came after 2 hours and 20 minutes of intense play, marked by grit and determination despite physical setbacks.

Osaka appeared visibly emotional after clinching the match, bending over and touching her face before walking to the net. At one point, she required a medical timeout to treat a left leg injury, returning to the court with heavy strapping on her thigh. She temporarily lost two games but ultimately closed out the match.

On-Court Struggles and Comeback

The 27-year-old, a four-time Grand Slam champion, admitted that her injury affected her movement, but she remained determined to finish the contest. Osaka has been taking painkillers to manage the discomfort and said she expects to recover in time for her next match.

This tournament marks Osaka’s first appearance since reaching the US Open semi-finals, where she lost to Amanda Anisimova. Her performance in Osaka signals a resurgence after a period in which she had not reached the second week of a major since her second Australian Open title in 2021.

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Now ranked 16th in the world, Osaka’s progress in the Japan Open highlights her resilience and continued presence among the sport’s elite, demonstrating that despite injuries and emotional hurdles, she remains a formidable competitor on the global tennis stage.