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Naomi Osaka receives treatment on the court during a medical timeout against Kiki Bertens at the WTA Finals in Singapore. Photo: AP
SportTennis

WTA Finals Singapore 2018: Naomi Osaka retires with leg injury against Kiki Bertens

  • The US Open champion takes a medical time out before retiring
  • Kiki Bertens was 5-3 up in first set of third group match
WTA Finals
Nicolas Atkin
Nicolas Atkin
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Naomi Osaka’s breakthrough season came to a disappointing end on Friday when a leg injury forced her to quit her final group game of the WTA Finals in Singapore.

The US Open champion was 5-3 down to Kiki Bertens in the first set at the Singapore Indoor Stadium when she called for a medical time out for treatment on her left leg and lower back.

Osaka’s leg had been bothering her during her second match against Angelique Kerber, which the Wimbledon champion edged after two hours and 29 minutes.

The 21-year-old also withdrew from the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open earlier this month because of a back injury she sustained before the China Open in Beijing.

Osaka’s coach Sascha Bajin came onto court before her medical timeout out to speak to her, and asked if her leg was too painful for her to continue.

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Naomi Osaka is treated by the doctor. Photo: Reuters
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“I can’t look inside you,” Bajin said. “I don’t want you to get injured. I know you’re a fighter.”

Dutchwoman Bertens is now through to the semi-finals in Singapore, and the winner of Sloane Stephens against Angelique Kerber later on Friday will join her from the Red Group.

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