Naomi Osaka‘s season only seems to be getting worse now. Once regarded as one of the best players in the world, the Japanese star has fallen out of the ranks and is struggling to find form. After making her comeback on the tennis court from her pregnancy, the 4-time grand slam champion does not seem to have found the spark she had earlier. Adding to her misery, she even updated her fans about her latest injury concerns, and it doesn’t bode well for her future.

Naomi Osaka recently revealed concerning details about her injury, leaving her Tokyo tournament participation in doubt. After withdrawing from her round of 16 match against Coco Gauff in Beijing, Osaka disclosed that her injury was more serious than she initially thought. In a recent question-and-answer session on Instagram, one fan asked about her injury update. Responding to it, she shared, “It is worse than what I thought. I just have a high pain tolerance lol,” she shared, suggesting her unexpected struggle with back pain during the event.

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The 26-year-old started 2024 in average fashion, reaching the quarterfinals at the Libema Open and Qatar TotalEnergies Open. However, in Beijing, she showed signs of returning to top form, defeating Yulia Putintseva and Katie Volynets to set up a high-profile clash against Gauff. Osaka won the first set 6-3, but after the American leveled the match, she made the difficult decision to withdraw because of her back pain.

Talking about her recovery, Osaka remains hopeful but cautious. She aims to compete in Tokyo but needs to consult her doctor before making a final decision. “I’m trying my best to potentially play Tokyo, but I’m still waiting to see what the doctor says,” she added. Fans eagerly await updates, but there is no clear guarantee of her return currently. Having struggled with her injury, Naomi Osaka also brought her cheeky side to the fans when she hilariously joked about her injury on her social media.

Naomi Osaka brings out her hilarious side despite injury concerns bringing out the worst in her

Naomi Osaka managed to make the round of 16 of the event before injury concerns ruined her chances. However, this did not stop her from entertaining her fans. In a hilarious Instagram post that she did a few days after the event, she revealed her two different states, one where she was winning the matches and enjoying excellent results, while the latter showed her struggling in the hospital.

“How it started v/s how it ended,” wrote Osaka on her Instagram to update her fans regarding the concerns. With the Tokyo Open set to commence on October 21st, it will be interesting to see if she will make it in time for the event. But, given her recent statements, it seems a difficult prospect for her.

What are your thoughts on this? Do you think she will make it just in time for the event where she will be the clear favorite? Do let us know in the comments below!