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Osaka Retires in ASB Classic Final

Naomi Osaka was forced to retire from the ASB Classic final in Auckland, New Zealand, due to an abdominal injury. Despite winning the first set 6-4 against Clara Tauson, Osaka's hopes for her first title since the 2021 Australian Open were dashed. She started strong, leading 5-1, but Tauson rallied, winning three consecutive games before Osaka managed to serve out the set.

At the set break, Osaka appeared visibly upset and was attended to by the tournament physio. This led to her immediate retirement, marking her second injury-related withdrawal in as many tournaments, following a back injury at the China Open in October. Clara Tauson, the 22-year-old Dane, was declared the champion, securing her third tour-level singles title.

Tauson had a demanding schedule, having played six sets of tennis on Saturday due to rain delays, including matches against Madison Keys and Robin Montgomery. Despite her victory, Tauson expressed sadness over the circumstances of the final, acknowledging Osaka's strong performance prior to her injury. With the Australian Open approaching on January 12, Osaka's preparation has been significantly impacted by this setback.

#NaomiOsaka,#ASBClassic,#ClaraTauson,#TennisInjury,#AustralianOpen