Injured Naomi Osaka pulls out of Hong Kong Open

Recently-crowned US Open champion Naomi Osaka has pulled out of the ongoing Hong Kong Open citing a back injury.

The 20-year-old had sustained the injury during her semi-final match against Latvia's Anastasija Sevastova in the recently-concluded China Open.

Announcing her withdrawal, Osaka said that she is very disappointed to pull out of the tournament adding that doctors have advised her to take rest to ensure that the injury is not aggravated.

"I am really disappointed not to be able to compete at the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open this year," WTA quoted Osaka, as saying.

"Unfortunately, I have been playing through pain in my back this whole week and the doctors have advised me that I need to rest to ensure the injury is not further aggravated and become more serious," she added.

Earlier, Ekaterina Makarova of Russia and Ukraine's Lesia Tsurenko had also withdrawn from the tournament due to a schedule change and low back injury, respectively.

-ANI