Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka pulled out of the Auckland Classic final on Sunday, citing an abdominal injury. This disappointing setback comes just a week before the start of the Australian Open, a significant tournament for the four-time Grand Slam champion.
Osaka, who was competing in her first WTA final in three years against Clara Tauson of Denmark, experienced the injury after winning the opening set 6-4. She called for the physiotherapist after her dominant performance in the opening set. Osaka displayed powerful groundstrokes and strong play, breaking her opponent in the third and fifth games. However, during a medical timeout at the change of sets, a sequence of stretches seemed to expose the issue.
Subsequently, Osaka and Tauson shook hands, with Tauson securing her third career title and her first since 2021. The unfortunate withdrawal was a shock, as Osaka appeared completely healthy and without injury symptoms in the first 35 minutes of the match. Osaka did not provide specific details about the nature of the injury during a brief courtside interview. WTA officials confirmed Osaka’s retirement due to an abdominal injury.
Osaka expressed gratitude for the warm welcome to Auckland, highlighting her enjoyment of the tournament proceedings despite the unfortunate circumstances. She also expressed her disappointment at the abrupt end of the match and expressed appreciation for the opportunity to play in the beautiful city.
Osaka expressed optimism for fans’ enjoyment of the match and noted her appreciation for participating in the event. This marks an anticlimactic conclusion to Osaka’s week, as she aimed to claim her first championship since the triumphant 2021 Australian Open victory.
Her last final appearance before this break was at Miami Open the next year, making this a highly anticipated comeback. Returning to the sport after a 15-month break, Osaka is currently ranked 57th in the world.
