Osaka retires from first final since 2022

Wednesday, 8 January 2025 00:04 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Naomi Osaka retired from the final of the Auckland Classic with an abdominal injury.

The four-time Grand Slam winner, who was playing in her first WTA final for three years after taking a 15-month break and giving birth to her first child midway through 2023, took the opening set 6-4 against Denmark’s Clara Tauson. But the 27-year-old called for the physio at the changeover and stood and performed a series of stretches during a medical timeout. After consulting with the trainer she shook the hand of Tauson, who picked up a third career title and her first since 2021. In a statement, the WTA said Osaka retired “due to an abdominal injury”.