‘Get well soon Mama’ – Naomi Osaka suffers career first as Australian Open conqueror signs off with heartfelt message
Naomi Osaka has suffered another major blow. The four-time Grand Slam champion has achieved an unwanted career first following her third-round match in Melbourne. Naomi Osaka leaves the court after retiring due to injury Two-time champion Osaka is out of the Australian Open, the 27-year-old was forced tor retire injured during her match with Belinda Bencic. The four-time major winner stormed to a 5-2 lead in the first set but surrendered her lead and the game went to a tie-break as injury began to take it’s toll. It was at this point Osaka first showed signs of discomfort, receiving medical attention due to an issue with her stomach. The 27-year-old soldiered on, playing the tie-break that former Olympic champion Bencic completely dominated and after losing the set, Osaka retired and ended her Australian Open run. Victory would have put her on course for a Melbourne repeat against Coco Gauff – a throwback to the pair’s first ever meeting in 2020 when a 15-year Gauff ended Osaka’s reign as champion. The two players hugged on the sideline as the former world No.1 continued an early season that has mixed flashes of her best with injury frustration. Just weeks ago she retired from the final of the Auckland Classic. That was Osaka’s first WTA final in three years and it appears that the same abdominal issue that caused her to retire then has ended her Australian Open chances this time around. “I really feel for Naomi. I saw her struggling a bit at the end of the set. It’s not the way you want the match to end,” Bencic said. Osaka gave birth to her daughter in July 2023 and returned to the WTA in January 2024. Naomi Osaka receives medical attention Having lost in the first-round of the Australian Open in 2024 she suffered second-round exits at Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open later that year. However, 2025 had started well for the 27-year-old with a Auckland final appearance and two strong matches at Melbourne Park that featured wins against Caroline Garcia and Karolina Muchova. It’s Osaka’s first withdrawal in 28 main draw Grand Slam singles appearances – and it continues a curious record of either winning a major or crashing out before the quarterfinals. Osaka’s opponent Bencic has also given birth recently with the Swiss playing her first major since the birth of her daughter in April 2024. After the match Bencic sent a message for Osaka, drawing a heart on the lens of a courtside TV camera and wrote: “Get well soon Mama.” Bencic will face off third seed Gauff who beat Canada’s Leylah Fernandez in comfortable fashion to reach the last 16 for a third consecutive year. For Osaka now it is all about the road to recovery with a hard-court swing across the US and Asia beginning, followed by the clay court season which starts in Mid-March, the French Open begins in May.
Naomi Osaka has suffered another major blow.
The four-time Grand Slam champion has achieved an unwanted career first following her third-round match in Melbourne.
Two-time champion Osaka is out of the Australian Open, the 27-year-old was forced tor retire injured during her match with Belinda Bencic.
The four-time major winner stormed to a 5-2 lead in the first set but surrendered her lead and the game went to a tie-break as injury began to take it’s toll.
It was at this point Osaka first showed signs of discomfort, receiving medical attention due to an issue with her stomach.
The 27-year-old soldiered on, playing the tie-break that former Olympic champion Bencic completely dominated and after losing the set, Osaka retired and ended her Australian Open run.
Victory would have put her on course for a Melbourne repeat against Coco Gauff – a throwback to the pair’s first ever meeting in 2020 when a 15-year Gauff ended Osaka’s reign as champion.
The two players hugged on the sideline as the former world No.1 continued an early season that has mixed flashes of her best with injury frustration.
Just weeks ago she retired from the final of the Auckland Classic.
That was Osaka’s first WTA final in three years and it appears that the same abdominal issue that caused her to retire then has ended her Australian Open chances this time around.
“I really feel for Naomi. I saw her struggling a bit at the end of the set. It’s not the way you want the match to end,” Bencic said.
Osaka gave birth to her daughter in July 2023 and returned to the WTA in January 2024.
Having lost in the first-round of the Australian Open in 2024 she suffered second-round exits at Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open later that year.
However, 2025 had started well for the 27-year-old with a Auckland final appearance and two strong matches at Melbourne Park that featured wins against Caroline Garcia and Karolina Muchova.
It’s Osaka’s first withdrawal in 28 main draw Grand Slam singles appearances – and it continues a curious record of either winning a major or crashing out before the quarterfinals.
Osaka’s opponent Bencic has also given birth recently with the Swiss playing her first major since the birth of her daughter in April 2024.
After the match Bencic sent a message for Osaka, drawing a heart on the lens of a courtside TV camera and wrote: “Get well soon Mama.”
Bencic will face off third seed Gauff who beat Canada’s Leylah Fernandez in comfortable fashion to reach the last 16 for a third consecutive year.
For Osaka now it is all about the road to recovery with a hard-court swing across the US and Asia beginning, followed by the clay court season which starts in Mid-March, the French Open begins in May.
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