Naomi Osaka surprised fans on her 28th birthday with an update that followed a dramatic turn of events at her hometown tournament in Osaka, Japan. After battling through the opening rounds of the Japan Women’s Open, Osaka faced an untimely injury scare that sent her to a local hospital. Hours later, she offered followers a glimpse into her birthday experience.
How Did Naomi Osaka Celebrate Her 28th Birthday Amid Her Injury Struggles?
Osaka began her campaign at the Japan Women’s Open with a commanding performance against wild card entrant Wakana Sonobe. The top seed cruised to a 6-0, 6-4 victory in just over an hour and 15 minutes, showcasing the power and precision that defined her career, and setting the tone for her return to competition on home soil.
In the round of 16, Osaka faced defending champion Suzan Lamens in a highly anticipated rematch. The match unfolded as a three-set thriller, with Osaka clinching the first set in a narrow 7-6(6) tiebreak before dropping the second 3-6. In the decider, the Japanese star raced to a 5-0 lead, only to be struck down by a sudden left-leg issue.
At 5-1, she requested a medical timeout, during which trainers applied heavy strapping to her left thigh. Despite her hampered movement, Osaka fought back to secure the final set 6-2, sealing her place in the quarterfinals after more than two hours and 15 minutes of intense play. Once off court, Osaka’s discomfort proved significant enough to warrant a trip to a local hospital for further evaluation and treatment.
MORE: Naomi Osaka Reacts After Ending Up in a Hospital on Her Birthday
Later that evening, Osaka took to Instagram to share four images with the simple caption, “Happy birthday 😂?”
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In the images, she appeared in a hospital gown, posing with a mask on. She also uploaded the image of her freshly bandaged left thigh, offering visual proof of her injury and treatment. She shared the image of a celebratory cake from The Ritz-Carlton, with a message reading, “Happy Birthday Nao-chi, Love, AB,” hinting towards a gesture from a family member or close friend.
The last image featured a cartoon illustration of a character screaming in exasperation, perhaps reflecting her own surprise at spending her birthday in a medical facility. Through this sequence of photos, Osaka managed to convey both the frustration of an unexpected hospital visit and her upbeat attitude in the face of adversity.
She is set to face Romania’s Jaqueline Cristian in the quarterfinals of the Japan Women’s Open on October 17, with hopes of advancing deeper into the draw despite her leg scare.