Daria Saville confirms ACL injury after Tokyo retirement, comments on player, fan reactions
The Aussie last incurred an ACL tear in 2013, and was already in the midst of a comeback from an Achilles surgery when the injury occurred against Naomi Osaka on Tuesday.
WATCH: Saville was only a game into her Tokyo encounter with Osaka when the injury occurred.
Daria Gavrilova Saville has confirmed that the injury she experienced on court at Tokyo this week is an ACL tear, which could sideline the 28-year-old Aussie into next season.
Saville experienced the injury during the second game of her first-round contest against Naomi Osaka in Tokyo, and played several more points before deciding to retire from the competition. A scan of her knee has since confirmed the injury is one she's experienced before in her career.
"Torn ACL. 2013 flashbacks," she said on social media.
Saville has had other injury problems, having climbed back into the Top 50 this season for the first time since returning to tour from a 10-month recovery from an Achilles tendon surgery in 2021.
Saville told fans not to "worry" about her, and also received a video message from Osaka telling her that "you’re one of the funniest people on the tour, and I still remember all the nice things that you said to me at the French this year."
"I hope that it’s not a major injury at all and you’ll bounce back," added Osaka.
Fellow WTA players like Iga Swiatek and Sloane Stephens also had messages for her on social media.
But she also criticized "some of my colleagues who literally saw me on crutches and didn't say a word," adding that "it makes me not wanna go through it all again to make a comeback on tour"—though she did thank those who had messaged her.
Saville has not yet announced a schedule for returning to competition.