Injured Naomi Osaka ‘Optimistic’ for Australian Open after painful exit from ASB Classic

Injured Naomi Osaka ‘Optimistic’ for Australian Open after painful exit from ASB Classic

New Delhi: Japan’s Tennis star Naomi Osaka will undergo a scan on the abdominal injury that forced her to pull out of the Auckland Classic final but remains optimistic about participating in the Australian Open.

The former World No.1 is racing against time to get fit for the Australian Open after sustaining an injury in the final of the ASB Classic in Auckland against Clara Tauson. She won the first set in the final against Tauson but had to retire from her first WTA final in almost three years.

The four-time Grand Slam champion called for the physio after the first set and pulled out shortly afterwards. Osaka played some powerful groundstrokes to break her Danish opponent in the third and fifth games and looked good in the 35-minute opening set and her sudden withdrawal from the event came as a shock.

She was very close to winning her first WTA title in three years but was reduced to tears after she failed to continue in the final.

Naomi Osaka retires from the Auckland final against Clara Tauson.

A very sad ending to this tournament.

Naomi had just won the first set and was playing some of the best tennis she’s played since coming back.

Wishing her a speedy recovery. ❤️‍🩹🙏

pic.twitter.com/M2QZ7peudr

— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) January 5, 2025

However, the 27-year-old Osaka said that she feels that her injury might not be too serious and she still feels very optimistic about the Australian Open “I’m having an MRI today to assess. I don’t feel that it’s too serious, and I still feel very optimistic about AO,” Osaka said.

Naomi Osaka enters in Top 50 in WTA Rankings

Osaka was ranked 57th leading into the WTA 250 event after a solid return to action post-maternity leave in 2024. However, when she qualified for her 12th career singles final, she returned to the top 50 of the WTA Rankings.

Osaka is currently 50th on the WTA Rankings, holding 1,145 ranking points. Aryna Sabalenka is in first position with 9656 points and Iga Swiatek is in second spot with 8120 points while Coco Gauff is in third position with 6888 points.

 

 Naomi Osaka is optimistic about getting fit before the Australian Open after sustaining an abdominal injury that forced her to pull out of the ASB Classic final against Clara Tauson on Sunday.  Tennis Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today