Naomi Osaka Withdraws from Billie Jean King Cup Finals Due to Injury

Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka has announced that she will miss next month’s Billie Jean King Cup finals in Spain due to injury.

“It’s been a tough decision not to participate, especially after enjoying the tournament so much and recognizing how it has contributed to my development as a player,” Osaka told Kyodo News.

Currently ranked 58th, Osaka sustained a lower back injury and retired during her round-of-16 match against Coco Gauff at the China Open earlier this month. Following this, she withdrew from two upcoming tournaments in Japan, including the Pan Pacific Open set to begin on Monday.

On Sunday, Osaka revealed that she has also ruptured abdominal muscles. “I initially thought I had strained my back, but an MRI in Beijing revealed a bulged disc and abdominal tears,” she explained. “I had been practicing in Los Angeles in preparation for the event, but a follow-up MRI showed that I still have tears.”

The Billie Jean King Cup finals are scheduled to take place in Malaga, Spain, from November 13-20. Osaka played a crucial role in helping Japan qualify for the finals by defeating Kazakhstan in April, marking her first appearance in the event since 2020.

Now working with renowned French coach Patrick Mouratoglou, Osaka will shift her focus to preparing for the Australian Open in January.