Osaka withdraws from Japan Open quarterfinal with left leg injury

Naomi Osaka withdrew from her Japan Open quarterfinal on Friday because of a left leg injury sustained late in her second-round match, tournament organizers and the WTA Tour said, handing Jaqueline Cristian a walkover into the semifinals at the Utsubo Tennis Centre in Osaka.

Osaka had advanced to the last eight on Wednesday with a three-set win over defending champion Suzan Lamens, closing out the match 7-6, 3-6, 6-2 after a 2 hour, 20 minute contest. Partway through the deciding set, while leading, she pulled up with discomfort in her left leg and took a medical timeout. She returned to the court with strapping on her thigh, completed the match and acknowledged afterward that she was in pain.

"It was definitely really difficult. I am kind of sorry about my attitude, but I'm really glad to have won. It's very special to play here," Osaka said during an on-court interview before cutting it short and adding, "Can I go? My leg is really hurting, I'm sorry." She later said she had taken painkillers and that she "couldn't really move that well," but expressed hope she would recover quickly.

Organizers said Osaka had not sufficiently recovered from the injury to compete in Friday's...