Naomi Osaka recently revealed in Tokyo that after experiencing back pain, she underwent an MRI in Beijing which showed a bulged disc in her back and ruptured abdominal muscles. Despite preparing to play in Los Angeles, a follow-up MRI confirmed additional tears, leading to her decision to withdraw from upcoming tournaments.
Having returned to competitive tennis in January post child birth, Osaka has reached No. 56 in the rankings and is now working with Patrick Mouratoglou following her split with Wim Fissette. She is anticipated to make her comeback on the court in January at the Australian Open, an event she has won twice before.