Lower back injury ends Osaka’s China Open campaign

Aiming to secure her fourth consecutive match win for the first time since returning from maternity leave, Naomi Osaka struggled throughout her fourth-round match against Coco Gauff at the China Open and was forced to retire due to a lower back injury with the match tied at one set apiece.

Naomi Osaka at the 2024 China OpenOsaka had started strong, taking the opening set 6-3 and leading by a break in the second. However, the American fourth seed fought back, winning three consecutive games from 4-3 down to claim the second set 6-4. Unfortunately, there was no deciding set, as Osaka’s injury worsened, prompting her to retire from the match. In a touching moment of sportsmanship, Gauff helped…