Marie Mahé, Media365, published on Sunday January 5, 2025 at 10:40 a.m.
This Sunday, in the final of the WTA tournament in Auckland, New Zealand, the Japanese Naomi Osaka had to retire, leaving the title to the Dane Clara Tauson.
Naomi Osaka will not be titled to start this 2025 season. This Sunday, as part of the final of the WTA tournament in Auckland in New Zealand, the Japanese, 57th player in the world and seeded n°7, had to give up, against the Danish Clara Tauson, 50th player in the world and seeded n°5. The Japanese only lasted 45 minutes of play, after winning the first round. In this first set, at 1-1, the Dane was broken, before losing a second serve in the process, despite, this time, a first ball saved. At 5-2, Naomi Osaka served, for the first time, to win this first set, but she ultimately lost one of her two advantages. In the process, the 57th player in the world obtained a new break point, synonymous, this time, with a set point, but without success. Finally, it was on his own next serve that the number 7 seed put an end to this first set (6-4), but also, against his will, to this meeting, after having nevertheless appealed, at that moment, at the physiotherapist.
Osaka suffers abdominal injury
On the court, in comments reported by theAFPOsaka spoke, without revealing the reason for her withdrawal: “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 really sorry to the way it ended I hope you enjoyed the tennis we played and I'm really grateful to be here.” According to the WTA, if Naomi Osaka was unable to complete this final, it was “due to an abdominal injury”. It had been three years since the Japanese last played in a final on the circuit. This injury comes just one week before the start of the Australian Open, which she won in 2019 and then in 2021. Clara Tauson, now only 22 years old, won the third title of his career. The first since 2021.
