WTA Tokyo: As Saville retires with injury, Osaka advances and sends opponent video message

Defending champion Naomi Osaka had a short workout on Tuesday evening as her opponent, Daria Saville, was forced to withdraw after just one game of their first round clash at the WTA Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, Japan.

Osaka, who came into clash with a four-match losing streak, was leading Saville1-0, 30-30 when the Australian injured her knee while leaping for a forehand shot. Saville collapsed to the ground in pain and received medical attention but was unable to continue.

Saville, who has had issues her with knee injuries before, posted a message on Twitter, praying that it was not an ACL-related injury.

The win moves Osaka into the second round where she will meet fifth seed Beatriz Haddad Maia, who defeated 21-year-old wild card Yuki Naito 6-4, 6-2. The Japanese player has beaten Haddad Maia in their only previous encounter, which came in 2015.

“I hope that it’s not a major injury at all and you’ll bounce back, because I know that’s what you’re good at” – Naomi Osaka

After the match, Naomi Osaka sent a vidoe message to Saville, calling her one of the funniest people on the tour, and wishing her a speedy recovery.

“I just wanted to wish you the best,” Osaka said in the video. “I just want to let you know you’re one of the funniest people on the tour, and I still remember all the nice things that you said to me at the French [Open] this year. I want you to know that I’m wishing you the best. I hope that it’s not a major injury at all and you’ll bounce back, because I know that’s what you’re good at.”

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