Top-ranked Naomi Osaka to miss French Open
By Emmanuel Awosika
World number three Naomi Osaka will miss this year’s French Open tournament due a sore hamstring, the tennis player announced on Friday.
Osaka, who recently won the US open, had left her hamstring taped during the final against Victoria Azarenka whom she defeated in straight sets on Saturday.
She said on Twitter: “Unfortunately, I won’t be able to play the French Open this year.”
“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 absence of another top-ranked player from this year’s French Open may worry organizers, given that world number one Ash Barty also pulled out of the tournament citing COVID-19 concerns.
Nonetheless, the withdrawal of Osaka may improve Serena Willams’ chances of winning her 24th Grand Slam which would see her tie the record for most Grand Slams won.
It is unclear if Williams will play at Roland Garros, as she had earlier withdrawn from the Italian Open due to an Achilles injury.
This year’s French Open will start on September 27 and end on October 11 following the decision of organizers to move the competition from its traditional May-June period over COVID-19 concerns.
