AUCKLAND (New Zealand): Naomi Osaka retired from the final of the Auckland Classic due to an abdominal injury yesterday, just a week shy before the Australian Open.
In her first WTA final in three years, Osaka won the opening set 6-4 against Denmark’s Clara Tauson before calling for a physio. After a medical timeout, she withdrew from the match, handing Tauson her third career title.
Osaka, who hadn’t reached a final since 2021, was hoping for her first title in four years. Despite a strong start, including powerful groundstrokes and a dominant first set, she did not provide further details on her injury but thanked the crowd for their support.
“I just want to thank everyone for welcoming me to such a beautiful city and I had a lot of fun playing here and I’m really sorry about how it ended,” Osaka said.
Tauson expressed disappointment over the way the final ended, acknowledging that Osaka had been playing at a high level.
Her most recent final appearance was at the Miami Open the following year, before taking a 15-month break and giving birth to her first child midway through 2023. – AFP
