MASON, Ohio—Naomi Osaka felt a strange sensation in her left knee, different than anything she’d experienced. The US Open champion left the court worried about whether she’ll be in shape to defend her precious title.
Osaka retired from her quarterfinal match at the Western & Southern Open on Friday, unsure what’s going on in the knee. She expected to get an MRI.
For now, the player currently ranked No. 1 in the world is concerned about her chances of making another deep run in New York.
“Last year, I won the US Open,” she said. “This year, I’m trying to play the US Open.”
The problem came out of the blue.
Osaka split two sets with Sofia Kenin. She felt something unusual in the knee while serving early in the third set. After a timeout to have it examined and wrapped, she played a couple more points before retiring.
“I have no idea what’s going on,” she said.
With that, Kenin advanced to the semifinals for the second straight week. During her run to the semifinals in Toronto, she knocked off then-No. 1 Ashleigh Barty, an upset that allowed Osaka to move up to the top ranking. She’ll face Madison Keys, who beat Venus Williams, 6-2, 6-3, to reach the semifinals for the first time.
Barty is in position to snatch it back heading into the Open. She beat Maria Sakkari, 5-7, 6-2, 6-0, with an encouraging all-around effort.
Barty will face Svetlana Kuznetsova, who reached her first semifinal of the season by beating third-seeded Karolina Pliskova 3-6, 7-6 (2), 6-3.
Kuznetsova is playing only her ninth event after missing the start of the season because of a knee injury. On a hot, humid afternoon, she got treatment for tightness in her upper right leg after the second set and twice again during the final one.
On the men’s side, Novak Djokovic continued his push for a second straight Cincinnati title, beating Lucas Pouille, 7-6 (2), 6-1. He’ll face Danlil Medvedev, who knocked off qualifier Andrey Rublev, 6-2, 6-3.
Qualifier Yoshihito Nishioka withdrew because of illness, sending David Goffin into the semifinals. Goffin will face Richard Gasquet, who advanced with a three-set victory over Roberto Bautista Agut.
Seven-time champion Roger Federer was upset Thursday, leaving Djokovic as the only high seed left in the bracket.
Image credits: AP