Federer, Osaka pull out injured, Nishikori shown exit
ROME: Roger Federer and Naomi Osaka both pulled out of the Italian Open yesterday before their quarter-final matches due to injuries just a week before the start of the French Open.
The 37-year-old Federer — returning to clay after a two-year absence — retired with a right leg injury before he was due to play Greek eighth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas.
“I am not 100 per cent physically and after consultation with my team, it was determined that I not play,” said Federer.
Tsitsipas, a runner-up in last week’s Madrid Open, will now play defending champion Rafael Nadal who beat fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco 6-4, 6-0 for a place in the final.
Naomi — winner of the last two Grand Slams in the US Open and the Australian Open — had earlier said she could not compete because of a problem with her hand.
“I woke up this morning and I couldn’t really move my thumb,” the 21-year-old told a press conference.
“I can’t move my hand. I can’t move my thumb and I’m not sure I can play my match.
“I tried to practice and grip my racket and I just felt this pain every time I tried to move my hand in different directions.”
The Japanese star was due to meet Madrid Open champion and sixth seed Kiki Bertens for a place in the final four in Rome.
Kiki goes through to meet either Britain’s Johanna Konta or Czech Marketa Vondrousova.
“I haven’t seen the doctor the yet. I’ve seen the physio,” she said.
Naomi said she could stay in Rome before going on to the French Open, but did not rule out competing in Roland Garros.
“I’m going to stay here for one more day and see how it is,” she said.
“I haven’t really talked to everyone so don’t really know the plan is yet. I’ve never had this problem before, it’s brand new.”
“I’m going to take it like how I went to Australia,” she added.
Swiss 20-time Grand Slam winner Federer was playing in the Italian capital to prepare for his return to the French Open for the first time since 2015.
“Rome has always been one of my favourite cities to visit and I hope to be back next year.” said Federer.
Argentina’s Diego Schwartzman dispatched Japanese sixth seed Kei Nishikori to become the second player through to the semi-finals.
Schwartzman, 26, won 6-4, 6-2 in 87 minutes in the quarter-final for his first win against former US Open finalist Nishikori.
The 24th-ranked one-time French Open quarter-finalist has not dropped a set so far on the red clay of the Foro Italico and next faces either World No 1 Novak Djokovic or compatriot Juan Martin del Potro who played late yesterday for a place in the final.