Former world No.1 Naomi Osaka has retired after completing one set against Belinda Bencic at Melbourne Park.
Osaka, a two-time Australian Open champion, decided it was in her best interest to withdraw due to an abdominal injury.
It is the same injury that forced the 27-year-old to pull out of the ASB Classic in Auckland earlier this month, but that time, she found herself one set to the good.
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The Japanese star called for the physio when she was 6-5 up, but she could only push through the pain until dropping the opening set in a tiebreak.
Signing the camera after her subdued victory, Bencic wrote a message that read: "Get well soon mama".
Both players have recently returned to the tour after giving birth to their respective daughters, with the former world No.4, Bencic, returning to top form sooner than anticipated.
For Osaka, it marks three consecutive tournaments (Beijing, Auckland and Australian Open) that she has retired mid-match.
This is the first time she has withdrawn from a Grand Slam match in her career.
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