Auckland –
Naomi Osaka retired from the final of the Auckland Classic with an abdominal injury Sunday, a blow to the Japanese star just a week before the start of the Australian Open.
Playing in her first WTA final in 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 afterward.
Osaka’s sudden withdrawal from the Australian Open warmup event came as a shock after playing with no apparent problem in the 35-minute opening set. She unleashed powerful groundstrokes to break her opponent in the third and fifth games.