By: Chinedum Ohanusi
Japan’s, Naomi Osaka is now a major doubt for the Australian Open, the first grand slam of the year in tennis; after withdrawing during the final of the Auckland Classic, against Clara Tauson of Denmark.
Osaka retired from the final with an abdominal injury, and it could be a blow to the Japanese star just a week before 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 physiotherapist after taking the opening set 6-4; and she pulled out shortly afterwards.
Osaka’s withdrawal from the Australian Open warm-up event came as a shock after playing with no apparent problem in the 35-minute first set, unleashing 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.
However, Osaka did not divulge details of what forced her withdrawal in a short courtside interview, neither did her team give the prognosis of the said abdominal muscle injury.
