Osaka out of WTA finals

ZTN Sports Reporter

NAOMI Osaka has pulled out of the cash-rich WTA Finals as a result of a shoulder injury and is set to be replaced by Kiki Bertens.

The World number three had beaten Petra Kvitova on Sunday to set-up world number one Ashleigh Barty in Shenzhen.

“I’m disappointed to have to withdraw. This is not how I wanted to end this tournament or my season,” Osaka was quoted as saying by the BBC.

“I look forward to getting healthy and hope to be back here in Shenzhen next year,” she said.

The world top eight players compete in a round-robin in groups of four at the WTA Finals.

Winners and runners up progress to the semi-finals and the total fund for the tournament – including the doubles – is 10.8 million pounds.