Tennis stars Naomi Osaka and Victoria Mboko have officially withdrawn from the 2025 Cincinnati Open, following their intense final clash at the Canadian Open.
Mboko, the 18-year-old Canadian sensation who clinched her first WTA title in Montreal by defeating Osaka 2-6, 6-4, 6-1, revealed she had been battling wrist swelling since her semifinal fall. Despite receiving medical clearance after an MRI and X-ray, she chose to prioritise recovery. “It’s just very close and sudden for me to go there and play again in two days,” Mboko said, confirming her decision to sit out Cincinnati.
Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, cited a “schedule change” as her reason for withdrawal. While less definitive in her statement, she hinted at reassessing her match plans ahead of the US Open, saying, “It’s going to be interesting to see what my next match is and how I’m going to play.”
Both players had earned second-round byes in Cincinnati due to their performances in Montreal. Their withdrawal opens the door for four lucky losers from qualifying to enter the main draw of the final major event before the US Open begins on August 25.
