Naomi Osaka has damage scare forward of Australian Open

Naomi Osaka of Japan is emotional after forfeiting her match towards Clara Tauson of Denmark within the finals singles match of the ASB Traditional tennis match at Manuka Physician Enviornment in Auckland, New Zealand, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (Alan Lee/Photosport by way of AP)

AUCKLAND, New Zealand — Naomi Osaka’s health for the Australian Open is in query after the four-time Grand Slam champion and former No. 1 suffered an obvious stomach damage Sunday whereas taking part in the ultimate of a WTA match in Auckland.

Osaka had received the primary set of the ultimate 6-4 towards Denmark’s Clara Tauson when she spoke to her coach Patrick Mouratoglou, the chair umpire and a tour coach earlier than deciding to withdraw.

Article continues after this commercial

The character of her damage wasn’t instantly clear however gave the impression to be stomach, not the again damage she suffered on the China Open in October and which ended her 2024 season.

READ: Naomi Osaka into first semifinal since 2022 forward of Australian Open

Osaka was in tears as she sat ready for the coach. She then left the courtroom to a subdued ovation as spectators earlier than returning for the prizegiving.

“I simply need to thank everybody for welcoming me to such an exquisite metropolis,” Osaka mentioned. “I had plenty of enjoyable taking part in right here and I’m actually sorry about the way it ended however I hope that you simply loved the tennis that we did play. I’m simply actually grateful to be right here.”

Article continues after this commercial

Osaka had led 5-1 with two breaks of serve when she started to look tighter, with much less energy in her serve. She managed to take out the primary set earlier than indicating she couldn’t proceed.

Osaka returned to tennis in the beginning of 2024 after a prolonged break following the delivery of her daughter Shai.

The Auckland last was her first since her return to tennis and had she received, it might have been her first title of any sort because the 2021 Australian Open.

READ: Naomi Osaka wins first match of recent season in return from damage

Osaka’s damage got here after a very good week in Auckland. Because the match unfolded and she or he grew stronger, the four-time Grand Slam winner and former No. 1 had spoken of how childbirth and her absence for the tour had modified her perspective and hardened her mindset.

“There are moments the place it’s actually troublesome, the place I do get down on myself,” Osaka mentioned earlier this week. “However then I simply type of realized I used to be pregnant not so way back and I simply actually wished the chance to play once more.

“Now I’m lastly right here and I’m placing up actually good fights and I hope that I can maintain persevering with this fashion.”

Osaka was the seventh seed in Auckland on her entry rating of 57 and received her option to the ultimate, beating Lina Glushko of Israel, Julia Grabher of Austria and Hailey Baptiste and Alicia Parks of the USA, dropping just one set.

“I need to take each match significantly and if somebody does beat me, I need it to be the struggle of their life,” Osaka mentioned. “I need to construct that status throughout the group of tennis. I simply hope that I can develop to struggle for all the pieces.”

READ: Naomi Osaka says she received’t ‘dangle round’ if outcomes don’t come 

“Final 12 months it was actually troublesome to get that mindset and you possibly can see that in plenty of my matches. The tennis was there all year long but it surely was extra of a mindset factor and now right here I believe I’m prepared for the battles.”

Osaka mentioned her absence from tennis after childbirth had given her a brand new perspective.

“I really feel like a veteran and in addition a beginner on the similar time,” she mentioned. “I really feel like I’ve been out of the sport periodically to the purpose the place I settle for the truth that I’m taking part in new individuals as a result of they’re new folks that come into the sport yearly and clearly I used to be out for a 12 months and a few change.

“I’m very curious the kind of folks that these younger gamers are. I really feel plenty of duty and I additionally really feel like I haven’t been the best position mannequin at instances. However I’m additionally, I assume, studying and making an attempt my finest yearly.”

“I do really feel just a little unhappy that my nice position mannequin is gone, which is Serena and, after all, Venus. And I hope that I’m capable of play as a few years as them and construct a extremely good basis for the game.”