Naomi Osaka has suffered an injury scare ahead of the Australian Open later this month after retiring from the final of the ASB Classic in Auckland with an apparent abdominal issue.
Osaka won the first set 6-4 against Clara Tauson but was then unable to continue and sat in tears as she waited for the trainer to arrive, although cut a more cheerful figure at the presentation.
“I just want to thank everyone for welcoming me to such a beautiful city and I had a lot of fun playing here,” said Osaka, without going into detail about her problem.
Osaka will hope to be fit for the Australian Open from January 12
“I’m really sorry about how it ended but I hope you enjoyed the tennis that we did play. I’m just grateful to be here.”
The first Grand Slam of the year begins in Melbourne on Sunday January 12 with the draw set to take place this coming Thursday.
Osaka impresses before retirement in Auckland
Osaka was looking to win her first title since the 2021 Australian Open and had reached her first final since 2022 after returning to tennis last year following the birth of her daughter Shai.
The four-time Grand Slam champion – Osaka has won twice in Melbourne and twice at the US Open – led Tauson 5-1 in the opening set with a double break and eventually closed that out despite being broken back once.
Denmark’s Clara Tauson poses with the trophy after winning her third WTA Tour title
Osaka’s retirement handed Tauson her third WTA Tour title and first since the Luxembourg Open in 2021.
Tauson said: “I have to say I’m really sorry about this final. Naomi was playing some great tennis. I just feel said about what happened.
“When I process this, I’m going to be super happy about my week. I’m happy that I won, but not really.”
