Naomi Osaka’s final in Auckland started perfectly, but ended in tears. The Japanese was in fact forced to retire after winning the first set (6-4) against the Dane Clara Tauson.
The latter, totally dominated until 5-1, had made up part of its deficit before Osaka finally closed the affair. The current 57th player in the world seemed a little worse than at the start of the match but the arrival of the physiotherapist was still a surprise. Less than the flood of tears that would follow. Too close to the Australian Open to want to take a risk, Osaka therefore preferred to throw in the towel.
She had already seen her end of season cut short by a back injury and it seems that it was again a problem in her lower back which caused her retirement in Auckland. Naomi Osaka will therefore not win her first title this week since her victory at the Australian Open in 2021. Clara Tauson, 50th player in the world, won her first trophy since the two won in 2021 in Lyon and Luxembourg.
Canada
