US Open champion Naomi Osaka joins Ash Barty in pulling out of the French Open

Japanese star Naomi Osaka is the latest star to withdraw from the French Open beginning in just over a week in Paris.

Naomi Osaka believes she won’t have enough time to prepare for the French Open

Japanese star Naomi Osaka is the latest star to withdraw from the French Open, beginning in just over a week in Paris, citing scheduling concerns.

A brilliant winner of the US Open last weekend, Osaka said there was not enough time to properly prepare for Roland Garros, which was rescheduled after being postponed in May due to coronavirus.

The 22-year-old withdrew from the final of the Cincinnati Masters prior to the US Open with a hamstring issue.

While she played with distinction throughout the last fortnight, culminating in a three-set victory over Victoria Azarenka in the US Open final, she said the muscle soreness was still a concern.

❤️ pic.twitter.com/W0tLuvib5U

— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) September 18, 2020

“Hey guys, first and foremost, thanks so much for all the support over the last three weeks. I couldn’t have done it without you,” Osaka wrote on social media.

“Unfortunately I won’t be able to play the French Open this year. My hamstring is still sore, so I won’t have enough time to prepare for the clay.

“These two tournaments came too close to each other for me this time. I wish the organisers and players all the best.”

The three-time major winner joins world No 1 and defending champion Ash Barty as absentees from the event.

Barty was among six of the top 10 women who opted against travelling to New York for the US Open, saying she would always put the health and safety of her team at the top of her priorities.

Other players also cited the COVID-19 situation as a reason for their absence, while the proximity of the two majors held on different surfaces was considered a deterrent.

Rafael Nadal decided to skip his US Open defence for that reason, preferring to play on his favoured clay courts at Roland Garros.

In the absence of Nadal and an injured Roger Federer, and making the most of Novak Djokovic’s default for hitting a lineswoman with a tennis ball, Austrian Dominic Thiem broke through for a maiden grand slam title in his fourth appearance in a major final.

Others have managed to handle the switch from hard courts in New York with distinction, including Victoria Azarenka.

In a phenomenal performance, the former world No 1 defeated reigning Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin 6-0 6-0 in the Italian Open in Rome.

Australian John Millman was beaten in second round action by eighth-seeded Argentinian Diego Schwartzman 6-4 7-6 (1).

Roland Garros officials, meanwhile, have had to revise their crowd capacity for the French Open down to 5000 per day from initial hopes of having 11,000 due to the worsening COVID-19 situation in France.