Naomi Osaka's Australian Open Campaign Ends with Retirement Against Belinda Bencic

Belinda Bencic advanced to the Australian Open fourth round after Naomi Osaka retired from their third-round match due to an abdominal injury, with Bencic saying 'I really feel for Naomi'.

Belinda Bencic advanced to the fourth round of the Australian Open after Naomi Osaka retired from their third-round match due to an abdominal strain. The injury has been troubling Osaka since the start of the season, and she had previously pulled out of the Auckland final earlier this month due to the same issue.

Bencic took the first set in a tie-break, winning 7-6(3), before Osaka withdrew from the contest. Osaka had revealed that an MRI scan before the tournament showed that the injury “wasn't fantastic,” but she had managed to come through two rounds, beating Caroline Garcia and Karolina Muchova in three-set matches.

Osaka acknowledged that her withdrawal from the match seemed “inevitable” after the strain she put on her abdomen in the earlier rounds. She told reporters, “It's not fantastic and I'm feeling not great, not bad. In the middle somewhere.” Osaka also shared the challenges she faced in managing her injury during the tournament, saying, “It was a little hectic trying to manage it (during the tournament) because obviously, my draw was quite tough.”

Naomi Osaka revealed that she had been undergoing therapy every day and night to try to manage her injury. However, despite her best efforts, the injury worsened after her previous match. Osaka explained, “But we were also doing everything we could. I was going to therapy every day and into the night. So the days have been very long for me. Obviously after my last match, it got way worse.”

Naomi Osaka was forced to retire from her match against Belinda Bencic due to injury 😓#BBCTennis #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/Kvmjo4SPLZ

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) January 17, 2025

Belinda Bencic made a strong start to the match, breaking Naomi Osaka's serve early to take a 1-0 lead. However, Osaka quickly regained her composure and found her range, using her effective first serve and deep groundstrokes to keep Bencic at bay. Osaka also showed mental toughness, holding her nerve on a crucial hold to lead 5-2.

Despite her promising start, Osaka began to visibly struggle, and her composure began to slip. She failed to serve out the set, and Bencic capitalized on the opportunity, growing in confidence with two searing returns. Osaka called for a physiotherapist during a changeover and, although she initially continued playing after treatment, she was eventually forced to retire from the match after the tiebreak.

Belinda Bencic with message for Naomi Osaka after the two-time #AusOpen champion retired with injury ✍️💙 pic.twitter.com/N8cyOLH2mj

— Eurosport (@eurosport) January 17, 2025

Bencic expressed sympathy for Osaka, saying: “I really feel for Naomi, I saw her struggling a little bit at the end of the set and obviously it's not the way you would like this match to end.” Bencic also acknowledged the quality of the match, stating: “I thought it was a good match, so hopefully she'll be fine soon and she can play well for the rest of the season.”

Bencic will now face third seed Coco Gauff in the next round, after Gauff defeated Leylah Fernandez in straight sets. The match promises to be an exciting encounter between two talented players.