Naomi Osaka was forced to withdraw from the final of the Auckland Classic on Sunday due to an abdominal injury, just one week before the start of the Australian Open.
The Japanese star was playing in her first WTA final in three years, facing Denmark’s Clara Tauson. After winning the opening set 6-4, Osaka called for a physio and pulled out shortly afterward, leaving fans stunned. The 27-year-old had shown no signs of injury during the 35-minute first set, displaying powerful groundstrokes that helped her break Tauson in the third and fifth games.
During the changeover, Osaka performed a series of stretches before consulting with the trainer. After a brief discussion, she shook hands with Tauson, who claimed her third career title and her first since 2021.
In a brief courtside interview, Osaka did not elaborate on the nature of her injury but later confirmed through a WTA statement that she retired due to an abdominal issue.
“I just want to thank everyone for welcoming me to such a beautiful city. I had a lot of fun playing here and I’m sorry about how it ended. I hope you enjoyed the tennis we played, and I’m just really grateful to be here,” Osaka said.
The withdrawal marked an anticlimactic end to a week where Osaka was chasing her first title since winning the 2021 Australian Open. Her last final appearance came at the 2022 Miami Open, before taking a 15-month break to give birth to her first child in 2023. She made her return to tennis 12 months ago and is currently ranked 57th in the world.
As Osaka heads into the Australian Open, the injury raises questions about her fitness, with her focus now shifting to recovery in the final days leading up to the season’s first Grand Slam.
AFP
