Naomi Osaka Retires in Third Round of Australian Open Against Belinda Bencic Due to Abdominal Injury

Jan 17, 2025, 07:24 AM

Naomi Osaka, a two-time Australian Open champion, was forced to retire from her third-round match at the tournament due to an abdominal injury. The incident occurred after she lost the first set in a tiebreaker to Belinda Bencic, with the final score being 7-6 (3). This marks the first time Osaka has had to retire during a major tournament due to injury. Osaka had been showing signs of discomfort late in the first set, particularly with her serve. Bencic, who advanced to the fourth round following Osaka's retirement, expressed sympathy for Osaka, noting her struggle at the end of the set. This injury follows Osaka's recent withdrawal from the Auckland final due to a similar issue.