Naomi Osaka Survives Injury Scare to Knock Out Defending Champion in Japan Open

Though the injury affected her movement and she also missed two match points that saw Lamens win the sixth game, the Japanese ace had a huge lead, so it was difficult for the defending champion to make her comeback, and Osaka eventually secured a 7-6(6), 3-6, 6-2 win. Lamens took home the Japan Open last year by defeating Kimberly Birrell in straight sets.

I took Advil, so I think it feels better than what it is right now, but obviously, it doesn’t feel good. I couldn’t really move that well. It’s not good, but I think I’m a fast healer, so it should be OK for my next match.

Naomi Osaka said in her press conference

The first seed will next be locking horns with Jaqueline Cristian in the quarterfinals on Friday (October 17). Cristian came from a 0-6 deficit to knock out Jessica Bouzas Maneiro.

Naomi Osaka on ending the year as a top 10 player

At present, in the live rankings, Naomi Osaka stands at the 15th spot following her fourth-round win at the Japan Open. She has 2498 points, and winning the quarterfinals will help her reach the No.14 position with 2542 points.

If she wins the title in the WTA 250 tournament, she will have 2694 points. The victory will make the 27-year-old a World No.12 player. But the former World No.1 doesn’t want to deal with the ranking pressure.

That’s kind of the tough part that I was dealing with today. Of course, I want to end the year in the top 10, but I don’t want to stress myself out too much about it. During the US swing, when I had a good run, I wasn’t really thinking about rankings, other than, like, getting seated in this land. But Tomasz (Wiktorowski) told me that there’s like a little difference between being seeded like 16 or something. So I think that’s my goal for the end of the year.

Naomo Osaka said during an interview with Tennis365

This season, Osaka has reached two finals, losing both. She handed the walkover to Clara Tauson in the ASB Classic final and suffered a three-set defeat to Victoria Mboko in the Canadian Open final.

Apart from these events, Osaka also reached the semifinal of the US Open but lost to eventual runner-up Amanda Anisimova in three sets. It was the first time she played a Grand Slam semifinal since the 2021 Australian Open.

Following the New York Major, Osaka suffered an early round exit at the China Open and the Wuhan Open. Osaka last lifted a title at the 2021 Australian Open by beating Jennifer Brady, and since then, she has lost three finals.

If Osaka secures her quarterfinal win, she will lock horns with Elise Mertens, Tereza Valentova, Ashlyn Krueger, or Olga Danilovic in the last four. Osaka has never played the final of the Japan Open.