US Open champion Naomi Osaka has pulled out of this week’s Hong Kong Open to prevent aggravating a slight back injury, organisers said on Sunday. The Japanese star required treatment to her lower back during her semi-final defeat to unseeded Anastasija Sevastova at the China Open in Beijing on Saturday. Afterwards, Osaka, who turns 21 on October 16, said it was more a case of fatigue than anything more serious, but suggested that she may not make the WTA Hong Kong Open, which starts on Monday. “Unfortunately, I have been playing through pain in my back this whole week,” the world number six said in a subsequent statement released by organisers.”I cannot give up easily.”
