Injury forces Naomi Osaka out of the Qatar Open

Newly-crowned Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka will miss next week’s Qatar Open due to injury.

Osaka, who hasn’t played competitive tennis since she became world No 1 on the back of lifting the season-opening Grand Slam at Melbourne Park, has been forced to pull out of the Doha event due to an unspecified back problem.

“I am sorry to have [to] withdraw from Doha this year as I was looking forward to playing and seeing my fans there,” she said in a statement.

“I wish everyone a great week and hope to see everyone next year.”

Former world No 1 Simona Halep will replace Osaka as the top seed in Doha while Grand Slam winners Angelique Kerber and Caroline Wozniacki as well as Karoline Pliskova and Kiki Bertens are also in the field for the WTA Tour Premier tournament.

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