Former world No.1 Naomi Osaka has suffered a cruel ending to a positive week, forced to retire after claiming the first set in the Auckland final.
The four-time Grand Slam champion raced ahead to a 6-4 lead against Denmark's Clara Tauson, serving five aces and looking sharp.
However, in an unexpected turn of events, Osaka requested the trainer to assess her lower abdomen, where she then decided to stop playing.
Osaka could do nothing but sit on the bench in tears, in what would have been her first title since the 2021 Australian Open if she had closed out the match.
“I want to thank everyone for welcoming me to such a beautiful city. I had a lot of fun playing here. I’m really sorry about how it ended. I’m just really grateful to be here,” she said at the trophy presentation.
Having returned to the WTA Tour at Brisbane in 2024 after a 16-month absence due to pregnancy, this latest setback now raises doubts about her hopes of competing at the upcoming Grand Slam at Melbourne Park.
The 27-year-old dropped one set on her way to the final in Auckland.
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