Naomi Osaka was forced to retire early on Sunday in her first final since April 2022. The Japanese former world number one was forced to retire due to injury against Denmark’s Clara Tauson in Auckland, New Zealand.
The 27-year-old Osaka suffered from abdominal muscle pain in the first set. The current world number 57 won the set 6-4, but could not hold back her tears during the break. After treatment, she decided to stop the fight.
Osaka reached the final of a WTA tournament for the twelfth time. It was her first final appearance since the Miami tournament in 2022, when the four-time Grand Slam champion lost to Poland’s Iga Swiatek.
Osaka then gave birth to a daughter and was also out of action for a long time due to injuries. She made her return to the tennis court a year ago, but she never got past the quarterfinals at any tournament.
Osaka previously won both the Australian Open (2019 and 2021) and the US Open (2018 and 2020). She hopes to win her third title in Melbourne. The first Grand Slam tournament of the year starts on January 12.
