NEW DELHI: Two-time Australian Open winner Naomi Osaka retired due to an injury sustained during her third-round match against Belinda Bencic in Melbourne on Friday.
After requiring medical attention for her stomach at 6-5 in the opening set, which she lost to her Swiss opponent via tiebreak, Osaka shook her hands and walked off the court.
Osaka had a difficult run leading up to the year’s first Grand Slam, withdrawing from the Auckland final due to an abdominal issue.
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The Japanese star also disclosed last week that she had broken up with Cordae, her rapper boyfriend and the father of her daughter Shai.
However, the former world champion arrived in Melbourne with a sense of confidence, claiming that her injury was getting better.
“I’m pretty optimistic about playing my match. I mean, for sure I’m going to play my match,” she said before the start of the tournament.
“I’ve been practising pretty well for the two days that I’ve been here, so it seems to be going good.”
With convincing victories over Caroline Garcia and Karolina Muchova, Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, advanced to the Slam’s third round for the first time since Shai’s birth.
However, both played to three sets at Melbourne Park and were obviously exhausted.
Osaka led Bencic 5-2 in the opening set before being hindered by her movement and serve, which allowed Tokyo Olympic winner Bencic to equalize the match and force a tie break, which she won 7-3.
Osaka was unable to continue and waved to the crowd as he departed John Cain Arena.
“It’s not the way you want this match to end. I thought it was getting to be a good match,” Bencic said.
“Hopefully she will be fine soon and can play well for the rest of this year.”
