Cincinnati, Ohio –
Canadian Open champion Victoria Mboko and runner-up Naomi Osaka officially withdrew on Friday from the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Open in decisions openly telegraphed after their Thursday night final in Montreal.
Mboko, the 18-year-old Canadian who electrified Montreal with her run to a first WTA title, cited the wrist injury she suffered in the semifinals, while four-time Grand Slam winner Osaka blamed a “schedule change” for her absence.
Cincinnati tournament officials said the pair had received byes into the second round due to their performances at the previous event.
Montreal protagonists Mboko and Osaka out of Cincinnati Open
