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Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka has pulled out of next week’s Japan Open due to a back injury, according to a statement from the Japan Tennis Association.

The WTA 250 tournament, which takes place in Osaka from October 14-20, will miss its hometown star as the 26-year-old former world number one continues to recover.

Osaka impressed at the China Open in Beijing last week, winning three matches.

However, during her last-16 clash against eventual champion Coco Gauff, she was forced to retire after the second set due to a back injury.

Speaking about the injury, Osaka revealed on social media, “I locked my back up during practice earlier and honestly wasn’t sure if I could even play, but I wanted to try.

Unfortunately, things just got progressively worse during the match.”

But in her last-16 match, against eventual champion Coco Gauff, Osaka retired at the end of the second set because of a back injury.

 “So I locked my back up during practice earlier and honestly wasn’t sure if I could even play but I just wanted to try,” she said on social media.

“Unfortunately things just got progressively worse during the match.”

Osaka’s last WTA tournament appearance in her home country was a fleeting one, two years ago at the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo.

She won a first-round match after one game when opponent Daria Saville retired.

Osaka then withdrew with abdominal pains before her second round match.

It was her last tournament before taking leave to give birth to her daughter Shai in July 2023.

Osaka returned to the tour in January this year but has struggled to recapture the form that saw her win two Australian and two US Opens between 2018 and 2021.

This withdrawal marks the second time Osaka has had to miss a tournament in her home country.

Her last WTA appearance in Japan was in 2022 at the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, where she advanced to the second round after her opponent retired.

However, Osaka later withdrew from the event due to abdominal pain.

Since returning to the tour in January 2024 after giving birth to her daughter Shai in July 2023, Osaka has struggled to regain her top form.

Despite her setbacks, the two-time Australian Open and US Open champion remains determined as she continues her comeback.