Naomi Osaka’s quest for a first title in four years ended in disappointment on Sunday, when she retired with an injury after winning the first set of the final of the Auckland Classic, against Denmark’s Clara Tauson.
The former world number one raced out to a double break in the first set, and while the second set went to a tiebreaker, she again showed off her powerful groundstrokes, taking the first set 6-4. But Osaka showed signs of pain before the second set, requesting a medical timeout to treat what appeared to be a stomach problem. She wept and pulled out, raising doubts about her fitness before the Australian Open.
Tauson, who won her third WTA title, sympathized with Osaka, who she said had played the “worst final” she ever had. Osaka, however, stayed positive during the presentation, joking that she was so nervous she did not have breakfast and avoiding specifics about her injury.
Osaka’s performance in Auckland offered glimpses of what was best from her, despite the sudden ending, though her participation in the Australian Open remains up in the air.
