‘Way worse’: Naomi Osaka on latest heartbreaking withdrawal

Tennis fans are beginning to express real concern for Naomi Osaka after the superstar withdrew from a third straight tournament.

Tennis superstar Naomi Osaka has been left lamenting yet another abdominal issue as her promising Australian Open campaign came to a sad end.

The former world No. 1 had been showing some encouraging signs as she works her way back to her best after giving birth to her first child in July 2023.

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But the 27-year-old has now retired hurt from her past three tournaments, last October’s China Open, during the final of the ASB Classic in Auckland earlier this month and now the year’s opening grand slam.

When asked if it was a recurrence of her abdominal injury, Osaka replied “it always is” with a rueful smile before stating the issue got a lot worse after her three-set victory over Karolina Muchova on Wednesday that lasted almost two hours.

Naomi Osaka receives treatment late in the opening set against Bencic. (Photo by Yuichi YAMAZAKI / AFP)

“It was a little hectic trying to manage it, because obviously my draw was quite tough,” she told reporters.

“But we were also doing everything we could, like 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. So credit to her for being such a good opponent.

“But yeah, it was just, I guess, a little inevitable, but I think the competitor in me just wanted to see it through until the end.”

Osaka raced to a 5-2 lead against Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic on Friday and fans could’ve been forgiven for dreaming of a fourth-round clash between Osaka and American third seed Coco Gauff.

Osaka bids a sad farewell to this year’s Australian Open. (Photo by WILLIAM WEST / AFP)

Bencic hit back, however, reeling off three straight games to tie up the first set.

Despite losing 10 points in a row at one stage, Osaka managed to hold serve to go up 6-5 before calling a medical time-out.

The writing was on the wall, with Bencic holding her next serve to love and then taking out the tie-break 7-3 before Osaka pulled the pin and reluctantly hugged her opponent.

Bencic then showed her class by writing “Get well soon mama” on the camera after she progressed to the round of 16.

Osaka expressed her frustration afterwards as she felt she could have caused further damage at a tournament she won in 2019 and 2021.

“I feel like if I could have served, then I could have potentially won, and I could have maybe gone far in the tournament,” she said.

“So it’s kind of hard just to stay in the moment sometimes in regards to, like, getting injured.

Osaka speaking to the media after her latest withdrawal. (Photo by DAVID GRAY / AFP)

“Obviously I was in the final in Auckland, too, and it sucks, because I also think I could have maybe won that tournament and it could have been my first tournament win back.

“But yeah, I do have to see it as I played really well today regardless of the fact that I was injured. And it was really fun to play such a close battle.

“Yeah, I just hope that I can figure it out and figure out how to get healthy in time.”

Osaka, who remains one of the most popular players on the WTA Tour, received an outpouring of support after the match on social media.

One fan wrote on X: “Naomi Osaka can’t just seem to catch a break.”

Another wrote: “Gosh, Naomi Osaka” with a crying emoji.

A third said simply: “We are going to miss you.”

Japanese spectators supporting Osaka in her clash with Bencic. (Photo by WILLIAM WEST / AFP)

Others pondered whether injuries will prevent Osaka from ever recapturing the form that led to four grand slam titles and becoming the first Asian player to be ranked No. 1 in the world.

Author Claire Watkins tweeted: “The great desire I have for a deep Naomi Osaka grand slam run vs the deep understanding that it might never happen again is a conflict I simply must accept.”

Sports broadcaster Annemarie Batson stated: “Ah…third retirement in a row for Naomi Osaka. I wondered if an injury might flare up again. Such a shame and frustrating for her. Momentum builds then stops again. “

Bencic, the former world No. 4 and Tokyo Olympics gold medallist who gave birth to her first child in April last year, will now face Gauff on Sunday.