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Naomi Osaka withdraws from Western and Southern Open final

Naomi Osaka has withdrawn from the Western and Southern Open final with a left hamstring injury, two days before the start of the US Open.

The 22-year-old Japanese was due to play Belarus' Victoria Azarenka in New York on Saturday.

Her withdrawal means Azarenka is champion by default, the former world number one's first title since 2016.

Osaka has been drawn to play compatriot Misaki Doi in the US Open first round on Monday.

World number 10 Osaka said she wanted to "thank everyone for the outpouring of support" after an "emotional week".

She initially pulled out of her semi-final at the Western and Southern Open because "as a black woman I feel there are much more important matters at hand".