Naomi Osaka's Doha experience is over before it began.
The two-time Grand Slam champion has withdrawn from next week's Qatar Total Open citing a back injury, the tournament announced.
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Osaka out-dueled Petra Kvitova in last month's Australian Open to become the first Asian world No. 1 singles player and the first woman since Jennifer Capriati to claim her first two Slam titles in succession.
Fans won't have to wait to see Osaka in action: She stars in a new commercial for Nissan, one of her sponsors.
Former world No. 1 players Angelique Kerber and Simona Halep headline a Doha field that includes St. Petersburg champion Kiki Bertens and Elina Svitolina.
Photo credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve