Former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka has pulled out of the Japan Open due to a back injury that forced her retirement from the China Open last week, organizers said on Monday.

Coco Gauff advanced to the quarterfinals of the China Open after Naomi Osaka was forced to retire due to a back injury f ollowing a tightly contested second set on Tuesday. The match ended with a 3-6, 6-4 scoreline, tied at one set apiece before Osaka could not continue.

In the China Open Round of 16 on Tuesday, No. 73-ranked Naomi Osaka takes on No. 6 Coco Gauff.Osaka earned a two-set win over Katie Volynets (6-3, 6-2) in the Round of 32 in her most recent match

Coco Gauff reached the quarter-finals of the China Open after Naomi Osaka retired with a back injury in Beijing. This was a much-anticipated fifth meeting between two of the WTA Tour’s biggest stars – and a first since 2022 – and Gauff had just levelled at one-set all when Osaka, who received medical treatment early in the contest, shook hands.

Naomi Osaka began her China Open campaign with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Lucia Bronzetti in the first round on Wednesday, marking Osaka's first match under the guidance of new coach Patrick Mouratoglou.

Coco Gauff helped carry Naomi Osaka ’s bags off the court after the former World No 1 retired from their highly anticipated China Open quarter-final with a back injury. Gauff had just levelled the match at one-set all when Osaka shook hands with her opponent, having received medical treatment earlier in the contest.

Coco Gauff was able to help her opponent off the court after Naomi Osaka was forced to retire from their China Open clash because of a lower back injury

Tennis fans had long awaited the rematch between Coco Gauff and Naomi Osaka. The two transformational women's players had played four times before today's Round of 16 match at the China Open. Unfortunately,