Naomi Osaka withdraws from Cincy Final with Injury, Victoria Azarenka Wins Title

Naomi Osaka withdraws from Cincy Final with Injury, Victoria Azarenka Wins Title

(August 29, 2020) Naomi Osaka withdrew from the Western & Southern Open final on Saturday due to a left hamstring injury, giving Victoria Azarenka a walkover and the title.

A statement released by the tournament had Osaka stating:

“I’m sorry to have to withdraw today with an injury,” Osaka said. “I pulled my left hamstring yesterday in the second set tiebreak and it has not recovered overnight as I had hoped. This has been an emotional week and I want to thank everyone for the outpouring of support.”

Osaka sustained this injury during her semifinal against Elise Mertens on Friday.

“Actually I felt my hamstring after my first match,” Osaka clarified in her news conference after the trophy ceremony.” “Normally it’s because, you know, it’s kind of tired and I get it — because I haven’t played a match in, like, six, seven months. So for me that was normal.

“In the last match that I played I was more — I felt it more during the super long service game I had in the second set. Then it just slowly started getting worse and worse.

“Then during the tiebreak I felt it again, like, a stronger pain. So, yeah, I would say there were definitely key moments where it just started getting worse.”

After Tournament Pause, Osaka Reaches Cincy Final, Djokovic Remains Perfect, Passes Bautista Agut Test

Despite the loss, Osaka representing Japan, will move up to No. 8 in the rankings. Azarenka will move up from No. 59 to the Top 30, for the first time since March of 2017.

“I feel like I played very good matches,” said Osaka in her news conference. “I feel like I learned a lot, and definitely a lot off the court has also happened this week.

“So I think I’m just happy with how I managed everything and how I was still able to focus on, you know, when I was playing the matches.”

“I think it’s unfortunate, because I was actually really looking forward to compete against Naomi,” Azarenka said to media. It would have been an amazing opportunity to face her level, and she’s been playing really great. I lost to her last time that we played, so I was really looking forward to that.
And playing the final is always really special, so, you know, I just take it the way it is. I can’t change anything. I just have to accept what it is.
I would have loved to have played, but, you know, I played five really good matches this week, and I think I deserve to be where I am today.”

This is Azarenka’s second Cincy title, she last won in 2013.

“It’s pretty significant. It’s my first title as a mom,” said the 31-year-old. “I haven’t even thought about it. So that makes it special (smiling). That part is special for me.

“Winning the title is obviously — you know, I work hard to win matches, but I’m so much enjoying the process of playing and the battling that winning is like, I guess, the bonus, you know, and winning a tournament is a bonus”

“I enjoy playing. Like, I had so much fun practicing today that I kind of want to go out and play more (smiling). It’s just a different feeling for me, being on the court right now.”

Osaka is scheduled to play her first round match at the US Open in the second match of night session on Monday against countrywoman Misaki Doi.

Azarenka is set to play Barbara Haas of Austrian on Tuesday.

✅ 21st career title
✅ First title since 2016
✅ First title as a mom#CInCyTENNIS pic.twitter.com/2YqZ4ScmIy

— Western & Southern Open (@CincyTennis) August 29, 2020