Naomi Osaka Withdraws from Auckland Classic Final Due to Abdominal Injury
Naomi Osaka faced a setback just one week before the Australian Open as she pulled out of Sunday’s Auckland Classic final due to an abdominal issue.
The four-time Grand Slam champion was playing against Clara Tauson of Denmark in her first WTA final in three years. Osaka won the first set 6-4 but had to withdraw shortly after due to the injury.
Despite playing flawlessly in the first set, using strong groundstrokes to break her opponent, Osaka’s unexpected withdrawal came as a surprise to everyone. She called for the physio during the match and ultimately decided to pull out.
During a medical break at the changeover, the 27-year-old stretched multiple times and decided to shake hands with Tauson, who went on to win her third career crown.
Credit: Tennis Majors
Although Osaka did not disclose the specifics of her injury, the WTA released a statement citing an “abdominal injury” as the reason for her retirement from the match.
Reflecting on the situation, Osaka expressed her gratitude to the fans and the city, apologizing for the premature end to the match. She mentioned, “I had a lot of fun playing here and I’m sorry about how it ended.”
Osaka, who was aiming for her first championship since the 2021 Australian Open, had a disappointing end to the week. After a 15-month hiatus and giving birth to her first child in 2023, she returned to tennis and is currently ranked 57th in the world.
