Naomi Osaka retired from the Auckland Classic final due to an abdominal injury, just one week before the Australian Open.
Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, was competing in her first WTA final in three years against Denmark’s Clara Tauson.
She took the opening set 6-4 in 35 minutes, showcasing powerful groundstrokes to break Tauson’s serve twice in the third and fifth games.
However, Osaka called for a medical timeout during the changeover and performed stretches with the physio before withdrawing.
The 27-year-old did not disclose further details about her injury, but the WTA confirmed it was an abdominal issue.
“I just want to thank everyone for welcoming me to such a beautiful city,” Osaka said in a courtside interview.
“I hope you did enjoy the tennis that we did play, and I’m just really grateful to be here.”
The injury marks a setback for Osaka, who was chasing her first title in four years since winning the 2021 Australian Open.
The former world No. 1 took a 15-month hiatus after giving birth to her first child in 2023 and has since climbed back to 57th in the WTA rankings.
Osaka expressed optimism earlier in Auckland, saying her “deep love” for tennis had returned, and she looked forward to competing in the Australian Open.
Despite the abrupt finish, Tauson acknowledged Osaka’s strong performance during their lone set.
“I felt like today she was picking up an even higher level, so I’m super sad about the way it ended,” said Tauson, who clinched her third career title.
“She’s right to put her health first, always,” Tauson added.
The Danish fifth seed said the final felt bittersweet as she processed her win.
The Australian Open begins in Melbourne on Sunday, where Osaka hopes to continue her comeback.
