Naomi Osaka has announced that her 2024 season is effectively over as she will not compete in next month’s Billie Jean King Cup finals due to injury. The four-time Grand Slam champion shared that she suffered ruptured abdominal muscles, which was confirmed by an MRI she underwent in Beijing. Initially, Osaka thought she had merely strained her back, but the imaging revealed a bulged disc alongside the abdominal injury.
The 27-year-old has been on the sidelines since retiring from her last-16 match at the China Open earlier this month, where she faced off against eventual champion Coco Gauff. Following that, she withdrew from both the Japan Open in Osaka and this week’s Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo. The Billie Jean King Cup finals were set to be the last event of her season, making her decision to withdraw particularly difficult.
Reflecting on her decision, Osaka mentioned the extensive number of tournaments she participated in this year, noting that it was a challenging choice to miss the Billie Jean King Cup. She expressed how much she enjoyed competing and felt that her experiences contributed positively to her development as a player. Despite this setback, Osaka remains committed to her growth in the sport.
The Billie Jean King Cup finals are scheduled to take place in Malaga, Spain, from November 13 to 20. Osaka made her return to the event in April, helping Japan secure a spot in the finals, marking her first appearance in the competition since 2020.
This season also marked her debut under the guidance of Patrick Mouratoglou, who is known for his long tenure as Serena Williams’ coach. Since returning to tennis after giving birth to her daughter Shai in July 2023, Osaka has faced challenges with consistency, achieving only two quarterfinal finishes in her recent tournaments.
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