Naomi Osaka’s WTA finals debut ended in tears as she was forced to retire against Kiki Bertens which promised the Dutchwoman a surprise spot in the semifinals.

It was a disappointing end for Osaka who had a whirlwind of time after beating Serena Williams in the US Open finals. The title cemented her confidence but she had a hard time on the Singapore Indoor Stadium’s hard court, which played much slower than she expected.

She came to Singapore as the in-form player but lost three matches to Sloane Stephens and Angelique Kerber earlier and bid farewell to Singapore as Bertens who won the first set 6-3 in 47 minutes.

Osaka had begun the match well, rolling through her service games before being broken at the eighth game. She called for a medical timeout and required treatment in the locker room.

Osaka said to the reporters, ”I hurt my left hamstring in the first match”.

I was getting worse and worse every time and I couldn’t even practice well today”

Since her victory at the Flushing  Meadows, Osaka became a sensation in her homeland, Japan. With her season over now, she will head home to Florida for the first time in months.

“I was told I shouldn’t do much, I should just rest for few weeks”.

 

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