Two-time champion Naomi Osaka retired injured from her third-round match against Belinda Bencic, ending her Australian Open run.
Japan’s Osaka was playing in the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time since her return from maternity leave last year, making this appearance particularly significant for her comeback journey. The four-time major winner stormed to a 4-1 lead in the first set, showcasing her familiar fierce competitiveness and skill on the court. However, her performance took a turn as she began to struggle with an abdominal injury, prompting her to call for the physio during a critical moment at 6-5.
As the match progressed, Osaka continued to experience discomfort, and Bencic seized the opportunity to dominate the tie-break. Ultimately, the 27-year-old made the tough decision to retire before the start of the second set, highlighting the physical toll the sport can take. “I really feel for Naomi. I saw her struggling a bit in the end of the set. It’s not the way you want the match to end,” remarked former Olympic champion Bencic, expressing sympathy for her fellow athlete’s situation.
Osaka’s journey back on the WTA Tour has been closely watched since she gave birth to her daughter, Shai, in July 2023, and she made her return to competitive tennis just six months later. Her return to this high level of play has not been without challenges; she previously lost in the first round of the Australian Open last year and exited in the second round at Roland Garros, Wimbledon, and Flushing Meadows. Yet, she had demonstrated resilience and skill at Melbourne Park this week, notably beating France’s Caroline Garcia in a thrilling three-set match and overcoming the formidable 20th seed, Karolina Muchova, in just under two hours.
Before the Australian Open, Osaka had to withdraw from the final at the Auckland Classic, which was her first WTA final in three years, due to the same abdominal injury that affected her here. It underscores the physical demands that come with professional tennis, especially after a hiatus such as hers.
On the other side of the net, Bencic is also marking her own return, playing in her first major since giving birth to her daughter, Bella, in April 2024. She is set to face third seed Coco Gauff, who progressed through her match against Canada’s Leylah Fernandez with relative ease.
Earlier on Friday, top seed Aryna Sabalenka showcased her capabilities as she continued her pursuit of a third consecutive Australian Open title. She faced Denmark’s Clara Tauson and, despite the competitive nature of the match, secured her place in the fourth round with a hard-fought 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 victory on the renowned Rod Laver Arena. Over two hours, there were 11 breaks of serve, illustrating the back-and-forth nature of their contest.
Despite the challenge of three tough matches, Sabalenka has advanced to the second week of the tournament without dropping a set, amassing an impressive record of 30 victories in her last 31 matches in hard-court Slams since the beginning of 2023. She looks forward to facing 17-year-old 14th seed Mirra Andreeva in her next match; Andreeva triumphed in a challenging battle against Poland’s Magdalena Frech with a scoreline of 6-2 1-6 6-2.
Coco Gauff secured a more compelling victory, easily dispatching 30th seed Leylah Fernandez 6-4 6-2 in just 76 minutes. The world number three, who reached the semi-finals in Melbourne the previous year, showed her growth throughout the match, reducing unforced errors and breaking her opponent’s serve three times in a row to clinch the second set decisively.
Meanwhile, in another match, 18th seed Donna Vekic grinded out a close encounter against Diana Shnaider, winning by a score of 7-6 (7-4) 6-7 (3-7) 7-5, and now looks ahead to her next challenge against 27th seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the fourth round, further demonstrating the high stakes and competitive spirit present at the Australian Open.
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