Source : ABC NEWS
Naomi Osaka says she did everything she could to manage an abdominal strain that forced her to retire from her Australian Open third-round match.
Osaka withdrew after losing the first set against Belinda Bencic on John Cain Arena.
The two-time Australian Open champion led 5-2 during the first set but was clearly in discomfort as the match wore on.
She received treatment from a trainer during a changeover when she was ahead 6-5, however chose to continue playing.
Osaka lost the set in a tie-break before making the decision to retire after 58 minutes on court.
Osaka received treatment for her injury during the first set. (AAP: James Ross)
Osaka had withdrawn after the opening set of the Auckland Open final almost a fortnight ago with the same injury.
Describing her conditions as “not fantastic”, Osaka said the injury flared up again following her three-set win over Karolína Muchová in the second round at Melbourne Park.
“It was a little hectic trying to manage it, because obviously my draw was quite tough,” the 51st-ranked Osaka told her media conference on Friday evening.
“But we were also doing everything we could. I was going to therapy every day and stuff like that into the night.
“So, the days have been very long for me. Obviously after my last match it got way worse.
“But it was just, I guess, a little inevitable, but I think the competitor in me just wanted to see it through until the end.”
Belinda Bencic (left) consoled Naomi Osaka after their match came to an abrupt end. (AAP: James Ross)
Osaka ruled out the suggestion she had become susceptible to abdominal strains following the birth of her daughter Shai in 2023.
The former world number one said she was first struck down by the injury during her teens.
“I kind of have a history of it since I was a teenager,” she said.
“At least once a year I’d get an ab strain … I think for me I want to say it’s more like the way my serve is. It’s quite explosive.”
Contesting her ninth Australian Open, Osaka said she was in strong enough form to have “gone far in the tournament”.
“I think I played really well today regardless of the fact that I was injured,” the four-time major winner said.
“It was really fun to play such a close battle. I thought the points were fun while I was playing them.
“I just hope that I can figure it out and figure out how to get healthy in time.”
Osaka was making her first appearance in the third round of a major since 2022.
Bencic, who also returned to the WTA Tour following the birth of a daughter, will play third seed Coco Gauff in the fourth round.
Gauff advanced via a 6-4, 6-2 victory over 30th seed Leylah Fernandez.
