Naomi Osaka’s comeback suffered a setback on Sunday, January 5. She withdrew from the Auckland Classic final due to an abdominal injury, just a week before the Australian Open.
Osaka was playing her first WTA final in three years against Denmark’s Clara Tauson. She won the opening set 6-4, unleashing powerful groundstrokes to break her opponent in the third and fifth games. She showed no signs of injury, so her sudden withdrawal was a surprise and disappointment for her fans.
Sudden Withdrawal
During the changeover, Osaka called for the physio and performed a series of stretches during a medical timeout. After consulting with the trainer, she shook hands with Tauson, conceding the match. Tauson picked up her third career title and her first since 2021.
The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) later stated that Osaka retired “due to an abdominal injury.”
In a courtside interview, Osaka said, “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.” She added, “I hope you did enjoy the tennis that we did play and I’m just really grateful to be here.“
This withdrawal is a blow to Osaka, who was chasing her first title since the 2021 Australian Open. Her last final appearance was at the Miami Open in 2022. After a 15-month break and giving birth to her first child midway through 2023, Osaka returned to tennis 12 months ago.
Due to injury, Osaka has retired from the match. Clara Tauson is the champion with a final score of 4-6.
— wta (@WTA) January 5, 2025
We wish you a speedy recovery, Naomi 💜#ASBClassic25 pic.twitter.com/jIyhBDfkFA
She has since climbed to 57th in the world rankings, showing promising signs of regaining her top form.
The injury raises concerns about her preparation for the upcoming Australian Open.
Australian Open Commences
The Australian Open 2025 is scheduled to take place from tomorrow, January 6, to January 26 at Melbourne Park. The main-draw tournament action begins on Sunday, January 12—the second straight year of a Sunday start.
This year’s event promises to be an exciting one, with the qualifying competition, exhibition matches, and Kids Tennis Day kicking off on January 6.
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