Just when fans had a sigh of relief seeing Naomi Osaka get back on her feet, unsettling updates have quashed those healthy updates. Shocking the community with yet another distressing news, the Japanese star pulled out of the Billie Jean King Cup in Malaga, Spain. The question is, why?

The Japanese sensation struggled for consistency after returning to the sport from her pregnancy hiatus. Hoping to remedy her plagued form, Osaka freed ex-coach Wim Fissette of coaching commitments and joined forces with Serena Williams‘ ex-coach Patrick Mouratoglou. Subsequently, the duo marked their maiden partnership at the China Open, however, her campaign was marred with physical concerns.

Osaka ruptured her abdominal muscles while flaunting her athletic prowess against Coco Gauff in the quarterfinals. She was forced to retire mid-match. Updates on her health were lowkey dark since then. For now, she has explained the reasons for her withdrawal to fans.

After she pulled out of the Japan Open and this week’s Pan Pacific Open, the BJK Cup would’ve amounted to the final commitment in Osaka’s 2024 calendar. “I’ve played so many tournaments this year, so it was the toughest decision to not play this and not play BJK. I honestly enjoyed it so much, and I think it helped with my development as a player,” she said. The BJK Cup final will open doors to contestants in Malaga, Spain, on November 13-20.

In April, Osaka guided Japan to overthrow Kazakhstan and qualify for her first Billie Jean King Cup appearance since 2020, and let’s be real, everyone awaited to see more of her latest partnership with Mouratoglou, especially after the Japanese player dropped a poignant admission working with the Frenchman.

Naomi Osaka wants ‘no regrets’ partnering with Patrick Mouratoglou

Japanese superstar Naomi Osaka believes that she has reached a stage in her life where she wants ‘no regrets’. So naturally she went out on a limb and posted Patrick Mouratoglou as the newest face in her coaching camp. While the duo enjoyed somewhat modest success in China, they have just started cooking. The Frenchman’s impressive work with Serena Williams and Simona Halep, amongst others, speaks volumes.

After winning the opening round in Beijing under Mouratoglou’s tutelage, Osaka highlighted that “the coaching change wasn’t personal at all. I just feel like for me, I’d rather try everything & not have any regrets. That’s kind of what that was. Patrick, he’s very famous & I would say he brings a lot to my game. I think in the short time we’ve worked together, I feel like I’ve learned a lot.”

With no upcoming touring commitments in sight, Osaka will likely utilize the time to recoup and recover from her injury. The Japanese sensation will potentially be seen in action next at the Australian hardcourt swing in January 2025.