Naomi Osaka’s return to tennis has been nothing short of an emotional rollercoaster, but her abrupt exit from the Australian Open left fans and critics stunned. The four-time Grand Slam champion admitted that retiring mid-match due to an abdominal injury was devastating—especially when she believed she had the momentum to make a deep run in Melbourne.
A dream derailed by injury
Osaka entered the tournament with lingering doubts about her fitness. Just weeks earlier, she had retired from the ASB Classic final in Auckland, citing abdominal issues. An MRI scan before her first-round match in Melbourne provided little reassurance, leaving her participation in the Australian Open hanging by a thread.
Despite these concerns, Osaka showed resilience, defeating Caroline Garcia in three grueling sets. The victory was particularly sweet, as Garcia had ousted her at last year’s tournament. Osaka followed this up with a stunning comeback against Karolina Muchova, winning 1-6, 6-1, 6-3. Her performance hinted at the return of the fiery competitor who once dominated the WTA Tour.
Injury strikes at the worst moment
The momentum came to a screeching halt during Osaka’s third-round clash against Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic. After an electrifying first set that Bencic won in a tiebreak, Osaka was forced to retire, her abdominal injury flaring up again.
In a heartfelt post-match press conference, Osaka opened up about the bittersweet nature of her performance. “I feel like if I could’ve served, I could’ve potentially won and gone far in the tournament,” she said, her disappointment palpable.
Her pain was compounded by memories of the ASB Classic, where she came agonizingly close to clinching her first title since returning from maternity leave. “It sucks because I could’ve maybe won that tournament,” Osaka lamented.
Silver linings in a stormy start
Despite the heartbreak, Osaka sees glimpses of progress. Her battles against top-tier opponents reminded her—and the world—that she’s still a force to be reckoned with. Reflecting on her match against Bencic, Osaka said, “I think I played really well today regardless of the fact I was injured. It was really fun to play such a close battle.”
The Japanese star’s focus now shifts to recovery. With her next mandatory appearance at the Qatar Open on February 10th, Osaka may skip upcoming tournaments to prioritize her health. Her partnership with Patrick Mouratoglou, former coach of Serena Williams, has already shown promise, and a healthy Osaka could spell trouble for her rivals in 2025.
A future worth fighting for
Osaka’s journey is far from over. With her sights set on reclaiming her spot at the top of women’s tennis, her comeback story is one to watch. If her determination is any indication, the setbacks of 2024 could fuel a triumphant return in the coming season.