In a dramatic turn of events, Naomi Osaka was forced to retire from the Auckland Classic final against Clara Tauson due to an abdominal injury. The match, which took place on Sunday, saw Osaka leading 6-4 in the opening set before she had to call it quits.
Osaka, who was playing her first final since 2022, had been in excellent form throughout the tournament, losing just one set in her four victories leading up to the championship match. However, her bid for a first title since the 2021 Australian Open was cut short by the injury.
The former world No. 1 and four-time Grand Slam champion was visibly distraught as she consulted with the tournament physio and spoke with Tauson before making the difficult decision to retire. This marks the second injury-related retirement for Osaka in as many tournaments, following a back injury at the China Open in October.
Tauson, who was contesting her first tour-level singles final since 2021, was awarded the title by default. Despite the anticlimactic finish, she expressed her sadness over the situation, acknowledging Osaka’s strong performance.
Osaka, who returned to the circuit last year after a long maternity break, thanked the Auckland crowd for their support and expressed her gratitude for being able to play in the tournament. She remains optimistic about her preparation for the upcoming Australian Open, which begins on January 12.
The tennis community has rallied around Osaka, wishing her a speedy recovery and hoping to see her back in top form soon.
Due to injury, Osaka has retired from the match. Clara Tauson is the champion with a final score of 4-6.
We wish you a speedy recovery, Naomi 💜#ASBClassic25 pic.twitter.com/jIyhBDfkFA
— wta (@WTA) January 5, 2025
Clara Tauson in 2025
Currently the world no.50, Tauson played her last match on the 5th of January when she defeated Naomi Osaka 4-6 in the final in Auckland to win her 2nd career title.
This season the Dane has achieved a 5-0 match record. Clara has won 1 title in Auckland.
Naomi Osaka in 2025
Currently the world no.57, Naomi played her last match on the 5th of January when she had to retire when playing against Clara Tauson in the final and the scoreline was 4-6 .
This season Osaka owns a 4-1 match record. Naomi Osaka’s latest run in Auckland was the best achievement of her season.
Clara Tauson and Naomi Osaka clashed against each other only 1 time. Their current head to head is 1-0 for Tauson.
