Osaka herself did not reveal in the post-match interview what type of injury it was, but according to a statement from the women's tour (WTA), it is an "abdominal injury". For the Japanese woman, this is happening at the most inopportune time, just a week before the first highlight of the tennis season – Australian Open – begins, the very tournament she last won (2021).
Later that year, Osaka opened up about her mental health and chose not to attend any interviews during the French Championship. The decision initially sparked criticism from the media and opponents, but the Japanese woman became something of a pioneer as several sports stars, including gymnast Simone Biles, later chose to speak out about mental health issues in top-level sports.
Since then, Naomi Osaka has also been away from tennis for a year and a half after becoming a mother for the first time. Ahead of this week's tournament in Auckland, she was ranked 57th in the world.
For the Dane Clara Tauson, the decision meant that she now secured her third career title and the first since 2021.
