Osaka into Miami last 16 as Stojanovic withdraws
FILE – Naomi Osaka of Japan returns a shot during her singles second round match against Ajla Tomljanovi? of Australia on Day 5 of the 2021 Miami Open presented by Itaú at Hard Rock Stadium on March 26, 2021 in Miami Gardens, Florida. Mark Brown/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Mark Brown / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
Japan’s Naomi Osaka advanced into the fourth round of the WTA and ATP Miami Open by walkover on Sunday after Serbian Nina Stojanovic withdrew due to a right thigh injury.
Second-ranked Osaka, the reigning US and Australian Open champion, will next face the winner of a later match between Belgian 16th seed Elise Mertens and 22nd-seeded Anett Kontaveit of Estonia.
“I’m sorry I can’t continue my participation at the Miami Open due to my recent injury during my singles match,” 95th-ranked qualifier Stojanovic said in a statement.
Osaka, who lifted her fourth Grand Slam title last month in Melbourne, is seeded second behind top-ranked Australian Ashleigh Barty.
