Gauff Withdraws From Wuhan Title Defense; Osaka Also Pulls Out

Coco Gauff will not defend her Wuhan Open title after withdrawing with fatigue, while Naomi Osaka has also pulled out of the season’s final WTA 1000 tournament. The withdrawals remove two Grand Slam champions from next week’s field and bring Hubei native Zheng Qinwen into Osaka’s place.

Wuhan announced both withdrawals Wednesday, after the two players’ China Open campaigns ended in the round of 16. “After a long year, my body needs some time to rest and recover,” Gauff wrote in an Instagram story, according to the WTA. “I’m disappointed to withdraw from Wuhan, especially as the defending champion,” she added, saying she expects to return next year.