Two-time Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka was forced to withdraw from her third-round match against Belinda Bencic on Friday due to a recurring abdominal strain. Despite receiving treatment, Osaka was unable to continue playing after trailing 6-5 in the first set.
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Two-time Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka was forced to retire from her third-round match against Belinda Bencic on Friday due to a strained abdominal muscle. Osaka, who was trailing 6-5 in the first set, experienced discomfort during the changeover and consulted with her trainer. Despite receiving treatment, including medication, Osaka was unable to continue playing. The match was officially called off after 57 minutes due to Osaka's injury.
Osaka, who made a triumphant return to the Australian Open after a hiatus for pregnancy and mental health breaks, expressed her disappointment over the injury. She revealed that she had a history of abdominal strains, which she attributed to the explosive nature of her serve. This issue had plagued her since a tournament in Beijing in October, where she also had to withdraw from a match against Coco Gauff.Osaka's recent comeback to professional tennis had been promising. She reached the final of a tournament in Auckland, New Zealand, in January but was forced to retire from the title match due to the same abdominal injury. Following her second-round victory in Melbourne against 2023 French Open finalist Karolina Muchova, the problem worsened significantly. Despite her desire to continue playing, Osaka acknowledged that the injury was a setback. She expressed hope that she could recover in time for upcoming tournaments in Indian Wells and Miami in March.Belinda Bencic, Osaka's opponent, offered her support and well wishes for a speedy recovery. Bencic, who won a singles gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, understands the challenges of motherhood and injuries in professional tennis. She even drew a heart on the lens of a courtside TV camera and wrote: “Get well soon Mama.” Bencic will now advance to the fourth round, where she will face either Coco Gauff or Leylah Fernandez, who were scheduled to play later on Friday night
Naomi Osaka Australian Open Injury Abdominal Strain Belinda Bencic Tennis
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