The abdominal injury that caused Naomi Osaka to abandon the Auckland final a set ahead of Clara Tauson less than two weeks ago struck again on Friday, forcing the four-time major champion to cut short an Open of Promising Australia.
Appearing uncomfortable at the end of the first set of her third-round meeting with Belinda Bencic, visibly on a reduced serve move, Osaka stopped the match after losing an opening tie-break, 7-6 ( 3). The two-time defending champion from Melbourne was visited by medical staff after battling through pain to hold on for a 6-5 lead.
“Right now I just feel for Naomi. I saw her struggling a little bit at the end of the set,” Bencic said during her on-court interview. “This is obviously not the way you would like this match to end. »
