Naomi Osaka had a turbulent season until she found her rhythm. Initially, the former world No. 1 and four-time slam winner failed to even clear early rounds in most of the tournaments she entered. But then at the start of the hard court swing, she switched coaches, and something clicked. She regained her lost spirits, reaching the final in Canada before shining at the US Open with a semifinal run — her first after five years. But then her form dipped in Asia, and because bad things come in threes, Osaka now faces an unexpected injury obstacle and its fallout.

At the Japan Open, the world No. 16 was looking to bounce back after her early exit in Wuhan days ago. And with an easy straight-sets victory followed by a hard-fought win in the Round of 16, it looked like Osaka was back in busine

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