Naomi Osaka Retires from Australian Open Match with Injury
Abdominal Strain Forces Withdrawal from Third-Round Match
Two-time Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka stopped playing because of a strained abdominal muscle after dropping the opening set of her third-round match against Belinda Bencic on Friday.
A History of Abdominal Injuries
Osaka explained that she has a history of abdominal strains, which started when she was a teenager. She got hurt at a tournament in Beijing, where she retired from a match against Coco Gauff on October 1. “Unfortunately, it carried on over to the beginning of this season,” she said.
First Round Back at a Major Tournament Since 2022
This was Osaka’s first run to the third round at a major tournament since 2022. She missed time in recent seasons due to mental-health breaks, then was off the tour while pregnant. Her daughter, Shai, was born in July 2023. Osaka began 2025 by making it to the final of a tournament at Auckland, New Zealand, on January 5, but she stopped playing in the title match there because of the abdominal injury. The problem got “way worse” after her second-round win in Melbourne on Wednesday against 2023 French Open finalist Karolina Muchova.
A Determined Competitor
“It was, I guess, a little inevitable, but I think the competitor in me just wanted to see it through to the end,” Osaka said. “I just hope that I can figure it out and figure out how to get healthy in time” before the tour heads to events at Indian Wells and Miami in March, she added.
The Match is Over
On Friday, Osaka was visited by a trainer during the changeover while she led 6-5. The trainer examined Osaka’s abdominal area and gave her a pill to take, and play resumed. Just before the tiebreaker began, Osaka went over to her courtside coaches’ box and chatted briefly with Patrick Mouratoglou. After Bencic claimed the set in a tiebreaker by a 7-6 (3) score, taking four of the last five points via unforced errors by Osaka, the chair umpire announced that the match was over after 57 minutes, “due to injury.”
Post-Match Reaction
The two players hugged on the sideline, and Osaka left the court. She won the Australian Open in 2019 and 2021, and the U.S. Open in 2018 and 2020. Bencic, who is also a mother, drew a heart on the lens of a courtside TV camera and wrote: “Get well soon Mama.” Next for Bencic will be a fourth-round matchup against 2023 U.S. Open champion Coco Gauff or 2021 U.S. Open runner-up Leylah Fernandez, who were scheduled to face each other on Friday night.
Conclusion
Naomi Osaka’s withdrawal from the Australian Open due to an abdominal strain marks a setback for the two-time Grand Slam champion, but she remains determined to get healthy and continue her tennis career.
FAQs
* What was the reason for Naomi Osaka’s withdrawal from the Australian Open?
Osaka withdrew due to a strained abdominal muscle.
* How many Grand Slam titles does Naomi Osaka own?
Osaka owns four Grand Slam titles, including two Australian Open titles and two U.S. Open titles.
* When was Naomi Osaka’s daughter, Shai, born?
Shai was born in July 2023.
