AUCKLAND, New Zealand (Reuters) — A shadow of uncertainty hangs over Naomi Osaka’s Australian Open bid as the celebrated four-time Grand Slam champion suffered a worrying injury during the final of the WTA tournament in Auckland on Sunday.
Having won the first set 6-4 against Denmark’s Clara Tauson, Osaka’s hopes were dashed when she consulted her coach Patrick Mouratoglou, the head referee and a touring coach, leading to her withdrawal from the match.
Although the details of the injury remain unclear, early indications suggest it may have been an abdominal injury, not a back injury that ended his 2024 season prematurely at the Open. China.
Emotion overwhelmed Osaka as she waited for the coach, eventually leading her to leave the court to respectful and measured applause from the audience before returning for the trophy ceremony.
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“I enjoyed playing here and it’s disappointing that it ended this way,” Osaka told the crowd. Her performance initially saw her lead 5-1 with two crucial breaks of serve, but signs of struggle emerged as her serve lost power, prompting her to make the decision to retire.
This match marked Osaka’s first final since returning to competitive Tennis in early 2024, after a long break for the birth of her daughter, Shai. Winning the title would have marked her first victory since winning the 2021 Australian Open championship.
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