Naomi Osaka Withdraws From Auckland Classic Final Due To Injury

Naomi Osaka has withdrawn from the final of the Auckland Classic due to an abdominal injury on Sunday.

This is a blow to the Japanese Star just a week ahead of the start of the Australian Open.

Playing in her first WTA final for three years, against Denmark’s Clara Tauson, the four-time Grand Slam champion called for the physio after taking the opening set 6-4 and pulled out shortly afterwards.

Osaka’s decision to withdraw came as a shock after playing with no apparent problem in the 35-minute opening set, unleashing some powerful groundstrokes to break her opponent in the third and fifth games.

At the changeover, the 27-year-old stood and performed a series of stretches during a medical timeout.

But after consulting with the trainer she shook the hand of Tauson, who picked up a third career title and her first since 2021.

Osaka didn’t provide details of what forced her withdrawal in a short courtside interview.

But, in a statement, the WTA said she retired “due to an abdominal injury”.

“I just want to thank everyone for welcoming me to such a beautiful city. I had a lot of fun playing here and I’m sorry about how it ended.

“I hope you did enjoy the tennis that we did play and I’m just really grateful to be here,” Osaka said.

It was an anti-climactic finish to the week for Osaka, who was chasing her first title since winning the 2021 Australian Open.

Her most recent final appearance was at the Miami Open the following year, before taking a 15-month break and giving birth to her first child midway through 2023.

She had returned to tennis 12 months ago and had climbed to 57th in the world rankings.