Australian Open: Withdrawal felt 'inevitable' – Osaka

Naomi Osaka was left deflated after what she suggested was an "inevitable" injury withdrawal from the Australian Open.

Osaka had just fallen a set down against Belinda Bencic on Friday when she retired hurt, with what she later confirmed was an abdominal injury.

The 27-year-old, a two-time champion at Melbourne Park, had been forced to pull out of the Auckland Open final on the eve of the Australian Open.

And Osaka said her withdrawal from the season's first grand slam ultimately came as no surprise.

"It was a little hectic trying to manage it, because obviously my draw was quite tough," she said.

"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.

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

"Get well soon, mama" Belinda Bencic Naomi Osaka#AO2025 pic.twitter.com/5A5iDOPfjM

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 17, 2025

Asked if she could take positives from her wins over Caroline Garcia and Karolina Muchova, and the fact she reached the third round of a major for the first time in three years, Osaka replied: "I feel like the positives are why I'm negative, because I feel like if I could have served, then I could have potentially won, and I could have maybe gone far in the tournament.

"It's hard to stay in the moment sometimes in regards to getting injured, because obviously I was in the final in Auckland, too, and it sucks, because I also think I could have won that tournament.

"I do have to see it as I think I played really well regardless of the fact that I was injured. I just hope that I can figure out how to get healthy."