Naomi Osaka suffers abdominal injury in run-up to Australian Open

Four-time Grand Slam champion pulls out of her first WTA final in three years after winning the first set of the Auckland Open.

Naomi Osaka of Japan reacts after withdrawing from her match.
Naomi Osaka was chasing her first title in four years at the WTA Auckland Classic [Michael Bradley/AFP]
Published On 5 Jan 2025
5 Jan 2025
Naomi Osaka has retired from the final of the Auckland Classic with an abdominal injury, 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 physio after taking the opening set 6-4 and pulled out shortly afterwards on Sunday.