Belinda Bencic advanced to the fourth round of the Australian Open in unexpected and bittersweet fashion, as Naomi Osaka retired during their third round match due to an abdominal injury. The Swiss star, herself a new mother, showed sincere empathy towards Osaka with a touching gesture and kind words.
A painful end for Osaka
Osaka, visibly struggling with her movements throughout the match, gave up after losing the first set 7-6 (3). The four-time Grand Slam champion, who has expressed her desire to make a triumphant return as a mother, was visibly emotional as her run at the Australian Open came to an abrupt end.
The 27-year-old then revealed that she has been battling the injury since the start of the season, with her condition having deteriorated following a grueling second round victory over Karolina Muchova.
“Obviously after my last match it got worse,” Osaka admitted. “It was just kind of inevitable. But the competitor in me just wanted to go all the way.”
Bencic’s classy response
Rather than celebrating his victory, Bencic took a moment to show solidarity with Osaka. The Tokyo 2021 Olympic gold medalist wrote a touching message on the camera lens after the match:
“Get well soon mom ❤️”
Bencic, who gave birth to her first child last year, later expressed her compassion for Osaka during the post-match interview.
-“At this moment, I really feel for Naomi,” Bencic said. “I saw her struggle a little at the end of the set. This is not the way we would like the match to end. I hope she gets better quickly and can play well for the rest of the season.”
Osaka’s fighting spirit
Despite the injury, Osaka fought valiantly in her second round match, but the demands of the Melbourne heat and the competition ultimately got the better of her. His decision to withdraw from the match against Bencic highlighted his physical limitations and the need for recovery.
“I was doing daily treatments and exercises, but after my last match, I knew that playing a full match today would be a difficult task,” Osaka said.
A season of resilience ahead
For Osaka, this setback constitutes a difficult start to a season that she hoped to mark with a strong comeback in her career. His determination to compete despite the injury underlines his commitment to returning to the top of the sport.
Bencic, meanwhile, moves into the fourth round with her eyes set on a deep course in Melbourne, but she enjoys the respect of fans and peers for her empathetic response to a competitor’s pain.
