That sport can be cruel sometimes. Naomi Osaka experienced it to her cost on Sunday. While she was playing her first final in almost three years on the WTA circuit and was well on her way to winning her first trophy since the 2021 Australian Open, the former world number 1 had to give up on Sunday in Auckland. Apparently affected in the abdominals, she gave up after winning the first set 6-4 in 46 minutes of play against the Dane Clara Tauson who took the opportunity to win the 3rd title of her career.
This scenario was all the more cruel for Osaka as she seemed to have control of the game. In fact, Patrick Mouratoglou's protégé even had a resounding start to the match, quickly leading 5-1. Very aggressive on the opponent's second ball, powerful and mobile, she clearly dominated before getting injured. Tauson thus broke, putting away a good set at 5-3 against her, before the Japanese, weakened, still managed to conclude the opening round in style with a winning forehand.
But grimacing, Osaka took a medical time-out at the end of which she decided not to insist. Did she stop the fees early enough to be able to recover for the Australian Open? We will know in the coming days. In any case, this injury comes at a very bad time for someone who seemed to be back in great shape a little over a year after her return to competition.
