Reigning US Open champion Osaka withdraws from Wuhan Open
Osaka s decision came hours after losing the Pan Pacific Open final on Sunday to Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic 4-6 4-6 ending the Japanese player s 10-match winning streak reports Efe.
"I m very sorry to have to withdraw from Wuhan. I look forward to playing in Wuhan next year " Osaka was quoted as saying on the WTA s website.
Osaka had earlier said she "felt really tired today" during her loss to Pliskova.
Wuhan Open co-director Fabrice Chouquet said he regretted the fact that Osaka was forced to withdraw after an "amazing few weeks" in which she became the first Japanese player to win a Grand Slam singles title.
Osaka 20 prevailed in the US Open final on September 9 over US legend Serena Williams who was penalized during the match by Portuguese umpire Carlos Ramos.
Ramos sanctioned Williams for receiving help in the form of a hand signal from her coach Patrick Mouratoglou as well as for breaking her racket against the court surface and verbally abusing the judge by calling him a "thief."
The Wuhan Open s co-director said Osaka is to be replaced by Polona Hercog of Slovenia who lost in the qualifying to Puerto Rico s Monica Puig.
In the second round Osaka World No. 7 was due to take on China s Shuai Zhang who defeated Samantha Stosur of Australia 6-2 6-2.
Osaka is the latest player to pull out of the Wuhan Open following former World No. 1 Victoria Azarenka who will also miss the tournament due to a viral illness.
Slovakia s Magdalena Rybarikova was forced to withdraw due to an upper respiratory illness.
--IANS gau/sed
