Osaka withdraws from French Open with hamstring injury
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[September 18, 2020]
(Reuters) - Japan's Naomi Osaka
has withdrawn from the upcoming French Open with a hamstring injury,
she said on Thursday.
The 22-year-old had her left hamstring taped when she battled back
against Victoria Azarenka in the U.S. Open final in New York on
Saturday to win her third Grand Slam title.
"Unfortunately, I won't be able to play the French Open this year,"
the world number three wrote on social media in a message she also
posted in Japanese.
"My hamstring is still sore so I won't have time to prepare for the
clay - these two tournaments came too close to each other for me
this time.
"I wish the organizers and players all the best."
The French Open will be held from Sept. 27-Oct. 11 after being moved
from its usual late May-June slot due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The hamstring issue had prompted Osaka to withdraw from the final of
the Western & Southern Open in the run-up to the U.S. Open but it
did not appear to hamper her at Flushing Meadows.
Osaka made headlines in New York as much for her performances on
court as for her commitment to social justice causes.
For each of her U.S. Open matches she wore a different mask that
carried the name of a Black American, aiming to highlight racial
injustice in the United States to a wider audience.
The withdrawal of Osaka, who has never advanced past the third round
at Roland Garros, comes as another blow to the tournament after
world number one Ash Barty of Australia said she would not be
defending her title due to COVID-19 concerns.
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Naomi Osaka of Japan reacts winning the third set and match against
Victoria Azarenka of Belarus in the women's singles final match on
day 13 of the 2020 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean
King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA
TODAY Sports
On the men's side, Roger Federer will not compete as he continues to
recover from knee surgery.
Osaka's absence would improve Serena Williams's chances of winning a
record-tying 24th Grand Slam title if the American chooses to play.
The 38-year-old has pulled out of the Italian Open with an Achilles
issue.
The French Tennis Federation (FFT) said on Thursday it would allow
5,000 spectators per day following a recent spike in COVID-19 cases
in the country. It had previously said the claycourt major would
permit a maximum of 11,500 fans per day.
(Reporting by Rory Carroll in Los Angeles; Editing by Peter
Rutherford)
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