Naomi Osaka, the renowned Japanese professional tennis player and former No. 1, faced a challenging setback during her match against Denmark’s Clara Tauson in Auckland last Sunday. Osaka came out strong but suffered an apparent abdominal injury while playing in the final of a WTA tournament.
Osaka was leading the game 5-1 against Tauson when watchers noticed something was wrong. Her serves were continuously looking less powerful than the last. Yet Osaka managed to finish the first set 6-4 before making the tough decision to withdraw from the game.
Fans may be disappointed, but Osaka remains optimistic for the Australian Open beginning Sunday.
ESPN reported that the 27-year-old tennis player will undergo scanning for her injury, but she feels it’s not that serious.
The four-time Grand Slam champion previously took a 15-month leave and gave birth to her first child in 2023, so the first time fans saw her play in a while was the Miami Open in 2024.
Despite this setback, Osaka’s determination continues to inspire fans worldwide. Ranking 57th in the world, all eyes will now be on Melbourne Park as she aims to make a return at the Australian Open.
