Naomi Osaka pulls out of Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo due to illness on Thursday, less than a week before the tournament begins.
Japan’s star tennis player Naomi Osaka had been struggling with a viral infection, and she was sent to hospital on Thursday morning to recover.
In a statement, the tournament’s tournament director told BBC Sport she had been transferred to a hospital unit in Tokyo because she was in “saturated condition” and “cannot tolerate fluid”.
Ms Osaka’s team said she was making “progress”, but would not provide further information.
The 27-year-old world number one, who plays on both the women’s and men’s tours, last played on the WTA Tour in the Japan Open in Nagoya in March.
Japan Open tournament director Hiroaki Kawada said: “The Japan Women’s Open had not been cancelled, and no decision had been made as at that time the players were very busy.
“We had a doctor on call and she checked Naomi’s condition and made the determination that she needed to be sent to hospital immediately.
“In the past, there have been athletes who have been to hospital with serious injuries and illnesses after playing tournaments, and we make every effort to be prepared for these kinds of emergencies.”
Japan’s most successful player, she has won 21 singles and 25 doubles titles since her debut in May 2014.
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The Japanese Open, the first of three grand slam events in the season that features 10 Grand Slam tournaments, started on 23 July.
The BBC reported that Osaka’s management team were not immediately informed of the decision regarding her absence.
Ms Osaka is scheduled to compete in the Australian Open on 18 November.
Pan Pacific Open 2019: The stars of the event…
1 Naomi Osaka – world number one, singles and doubles player
2 Naomi Osaka – world number one, singles and doubles player
3 Naomi Osaka – world number one, singles and doubles player
4 Kimiko Date-Krumm – world number one, singles and doubles player
5