After their impressive performances at the National Bank Open in Montreal, Victoria Mboko and Naomi Osaka have announced their withdrawal from the Cincinnati Open. This decision comes just a day after their intense final match in Montreal, where Mboko secured her first WTA title.

Victoria Mboko's Injury Mboko, the 18-year-old Canadian sensation, revealed that she sustained a left wrist injury during her semifinal match in Montreal. Despite her victory over Osaka in the final, Mboko underwent an MRI and decided to withdraw from the Cincinnati Open as a precautionary measure. "I just want to take care of my wrist a little bit right now," Mboko stated. "I think it's just very close and sudden for me to go there and play again in, like, two days. I think I'm just going to sit out on that one and prepare for the upcoming tournaments."

Naomi Osaka's Schedule Change Naomi Osaka, who reached her first 1000-level final since 2022, cited a "change of schedule" as her reason for withdrawing. Osaka had been granted a performance bye into the second round of the Cincinnati Open, but her withdrawal has reshuffled the tournament's lineup.

Impact on the Tournament With both players withdrawing, the Cincinnati Open has adjusted its schedule to include two additional first-round matches. Cristina Bucsa and Yuan Yue will replace Mboko, while Solana Sierra and Iva Jovic will take Osaka's place. The winners of these matches will face seeded players in the second round.

Looking Ahead Both Mboko and Osaka are expected to be seeded at the upcoming US Open, reflecting their strong performances in Montreal. Mboko, who started the year ranked outside the top 300, has now reached a career-high ranking of No. 24. Osaka, currently ranked No. 25, continues her climb since returning from maternity leave at the start of the 2024 season.

This withdrawal highlights the physical demands of back-to-back tournaments and the importance of player health as they prepare for major events like the US Open.