Naomi Osaka retired from the final of the Auckland Classic with an abdominal injury on Jan 5, a blow to the Japanese star just a week before the start of the Australian Open.

Playing in her first WTA final for three years, against Denmark’s Clara Tauson, the four-time Grand Slam champion called for the physiotherapist after taking the opening set 6-4 and pulled out shortly afterwards.

Osaka’s withdrawal from the Australian Open warm-up event came as a shock after playing with no apparent problem in the 35-minute first set, unleashing powerful groundstrokes to break her opponent in the third and fifth games.

At the changeover, the 27-year-old stood and performed a series of stretches during a medical timeout. After consulting with the trainer, she shook the hand of Tauson, who picked up a third career title and her first since 2021.

Osaka did not divulge details of what forced her withdrawal in a short courtside interview.

However, in a statement, the WTA said that she retired “due to an abdominal injury”.

“I just want to thank everyone for welcoming me to such a beautiful city and I had a lot of fun playing here and I’m really sorry about how it ended,” Osaka said.

“I hope you did enjoy the tennis that we did play and I’m just really grateful to be here.”

It was an anti-climactic finish to the week for the former world No. 1, who was chasing her first title in four years since winning the 2021 Australian Open.

Her most recent final appearance was at the Miami Open the following year, before taking a 15-month break and giving birth to her first child midway through 2023.

She returned to tennis 12 months ago and has climbed to 57th in the world rankings.

Osaka arrived in Auckland professing that her “deep love” of tennis was returning and voiced confidence about the possibility of a strong campaign at the year’s first Grand Slam, starting in Melbourne on Jan 12.

She appeared to find her rhythm as the Auckland tournament progressed, sweeping past four lower-ranked opponents, but it was not meant to be in the end.

Fifth seed Tauson, meanwhile, conceded she had been outplayed in their lone set.

“I felt like today she was picking up an even higher level so I’m super sad about the way it ended,” the 50th-ranked Dane said. “She’s right to put her health first, always.

“It’s the worst final I’ve ever played emotionally because I can’t feel happy and I’m just sad about what happened. But of course when I process this, I’m going to be super happy about my week.”

Elsewhere, reigning Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka geared up for her title defence with a battling 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 win over Russian qualifier Polina Kudermetova in the final of the Brisbane International.

The world No. 1 from Belarus appeared off the pace against her opponent initially and lost the first set by dropping her serve for a second time.

The 26-year-old appeared much more like her usual dominant self in the second set as she forced a decider, much to the delight of fans at a packed Pat Rafter Arena.

Sabalenka offered another reminder of her calibre by breaking in the third set with a sharp crosscourt forehand winner and staved off a late comeback attempt from Kudermetova to claim her first title of the season.

The three-time Major singles champion was clearly in a good mood afterwards, making a lighthearted comment about the speed of their game.

“I want to congratulate Polina on an impressive week. From qualities all the way to the finals. Congrats to you and your coach,” she said.

“And I really want to know the speed of all our shots today. I think it beat the record for sure.”

-AFP/ Reuters

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List of Australian Open women’s singles champions since the event began in 1922 (Australian unless stated):

2023 Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus) bt Elena Rybakina (Kazakhstan) 4-6 6-3 6-4

2022 Ash Barty bt Danielle Collins (U.S.) 6-3 7-6(2)

2021 Naomi Osaka (Japan) bt Jennifer Brady (U.S.) 6-4 6-3

2020 Sofia Kenin (U.S.) bt Garbine Muguruza (Spain) 4-6 6-2 6-2

2019 Osaka bt Petra Kvitova (Czech Republic) 7-6(2) 5-7 6-4

2018 Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark) bt Simona Halep (Romania) 7-6(2) 3-6 6-4

2017 Serena Williams (U.S.) bt Venus Williams (U.S.) 6-4 6-4

2016 Angelique Kerber (Germany) bt S. Williams 6-4 3-6 6-4

2015 S. Williams bt Maria Sharapova (Russia) 6-3 7-6(5)

2014 Li Na (China) bt Dominika Cibulkova (Slovakia) 7-6(3) 6-0

2013 Victoria Azarenka (Belarus) bt Li 4-6 6-4 6-3

2012 Azarenka bt Sharapova 6-3 6-0

2011 Kim Clijsters (Belgium) bt Li 3-6 6-3 6-3

2010 S. Williams bt Justine Henin (Belgium) 6-4 3-6 6-2

2009 S. Williams bt Dinara Safina (Russia) 6-0 6-3

2008 Sharapova bt Ana Ivanovic (Serbia) 7-5 6-3

2007 S. Williams bt Sharapova 6-1 6-2

2006 Amelie Mauresmo (France) bt Henin 6-1 2-0 (retired)

2005 S. Williams bt Lindsay Davenport (U.S.) 2-6 6-3 6-0

2004 Henin bt Clijsters 6-3 4-6 6-3

2003 S. Williams bt V. Williams 7-6(4) 3-6 6-4

2002 Jennifer Capriati (U.S.) bt Martina Hingis (Switzerland) 4-6 7-6(7) 6-2

2001 Capriati bt Hingis 6-4 6-3

2000 Davenport bt Hingis 6-1 7-5

1999 Hingis bt Mauresmo 6-2 6-3

1998 Hingis bt Conchita Martinez (Spain) 6-3 6-3

1997 Hingis bt Mary Pierce (France) 6-2 6-2

1996 Monica Seles (U.S.) bt Anke Huber (Germany) 6-4 6-1

1995 Pierce bt Arantxa Sanchez Vicario (Spain) 6-3 6-2

1994 Steffi Graf (Germany) bt Sanchez Vicario 6-0 6-2

1993 Seles (Yugoslavia) bt Graf 4-6 6-3 6-2

1992 Seles bt Mary Joe Fernandez (U.S.) 6-3 6-4

1991 Seles bt Jana Novotna (Czechoslovakia) 5-7 6-3 6-1

1990 Graf bt Fernandez 6-3 6-4

1989 Graf bt Helena Sukova (Czechoslovakia) 6-4 6-4

1988 Graf bt Chris Evert (U.S.) 6-4 6-4

1987 Hana Mandlikova (Czechoslovakia) bt Martina Navratilova (U.S.) 7-5 7-6(1)

1986 no competition

1985 Navratilova bt Evert 6-2 4-6 6-2

1984 Evert bt Sukova 6-7(4) 6-1 6-3

1983 Navratilova bt Kathy Jordan (U.S.) 6-2 7-6(5)

1982 Evert bt Navratilova 6-3 2-6 6-3

1981 Navratilova bt Evert 6-7(4) 6-4 7-5

1980 Mandlikova bt Wendy Turnbull 6-0 7-5

1979 Barbara Jordan (U.S.) bt Sharon Walsh (U.S.) 6-3 6-3

1978 Chris O’Neil bt Betsy Nagelsen 6-3 7-6(3)

1977 (Dec) Evonne Goolagong Cawley bt Helen Gourlay Cawley 6-3 6-0

1977 (Jan) Kerry Melville Reid bt Dianne Fromholtz Balestrat 7-5 6-2

1976 Goolagong Cawley bt Renata Tomanova (Czechoslovakia) 6-2 6-2

1975 Goolagong Cawley bt Navratilova (Czechoslovakia) 6-3 6-2

1974 Goolagong Cawley bt Evert 7-6(5) 4-6 6-0

1973 Margaret Court bt Goolagong Cawley 6-4 7-5

1972 Virginia Wade (Britain) bt Goolagong Cawley 6-4 6-4

1971 Court bt Goolagong Cawley 2-6 7-6(0) 7-5

1970 Court bt Melville Reid 6-1 6-3

1969 Court bt Billie Jean King (U.S.) 6-4 6-1

1968 King bt Court 6-1 6-2

1967 Nancy Richey (U.S.) bt Lesley Turner Bowrey 6-1 6-4

1966 Court bt Richey (walkover)

1965 Court bt Maria Bueno (Brazil) 5-7 6-4 5-2 (retired)

1964 Court bt Turner Bowrey 6-3 6-2

1963 Court bt Jan Lehane O’Neill 6-2 6-2

1962 Court bt Lehane O’Neill 6-0 6-2

1961 Court bt Lehane O’Neill 6-1 6-4

1960 Court bt Lehane O’Neill 7-5 6-2

1959 Mary Carter Reitano bt Renee Schuurman Haygarth (South

Africa) 6-2 6-3

1958 Angela Mortimer Barrett (Britain) bt Lorraine Coghlan

Robinson 6-2 6-4

1957 Shirley Fry Irvin (U.S.) bt Althea Gibson (U.S.) 6-3 6-4

1956 Carter Reitano bt Thelma Coyne Long (U.S.) 3-6 6-2 9-7

1955 Beryl Penrose Collier bt Coyne Long 6-4 6-3

1954 Coyne Long bt Jenny Staley 6-3 6-4

1953 Maureen Connolly Brinker (U.S.) bt Julia Sampson Hayward (U.S.) 6-3 6-2

1952 Coyne Long bt Helen Angwin 6-2 6-3

1951 Nancye Wynne Bolton bt Coyne Long 6-1 7-5

1950 Louise Brough (U.S.) bt Doris Hart (U.S.) 6-4 3-6 6-4

1949 Hart bt Wynne Bolton 6-4 6-4

1948 Wynne Bolton bt Marie Toomey 6-2 6-1

1947 Wynne Bolton bt Nell Hall Hopman 6-3 6-2

1946 Wynne Bolton bt Joyce Fitch 6-4 6-4

1941-45 No competition

1940 Wynne Bolton bt Coyne Long 5-7 6-4 6-0

1939 Emily Hood Westacott bt Hall Hopman 6-1 6-2

1938 Dorothy Cheney (U.S.) bt Dorothy Stevenson 6-3 6-2

1937 Wynne Bolton by Hood Westacott 6-3 5-7 6-4

1936 Joan Hartigan bt Wynne Bolton 6-4 6-4

1935 Dorothy Round Little (Britain) Nancy Lyle Glover 1-6 6-1 6-3

1934 Hartigan bt Margaret Molesworth 6-1 6-4

1933 Hartigan bt Coral Buttsworth 6-4 6-3

1932 Buttsworth bt Kathleen Le Messurier 9-7 6-4

1931 Buttsworth bt Marjorie Cox Crawford 1-6 6-3 6-4

1930 Daphne Akhurst Cozens bt Sylvia Lance Harper 10-8 2-6 7-5

1929 Akhurst Cozens bt Louise Bickerton 6-1 5-7 6-2

1928 Akhurst Cozens bt Esna Boyd Robertson 7-5 6-2

1927 Boyd Robertson bt Lance Harper 5-7 6-1 6-2

1926 Akhurst Cozens bt Boyd Robertson 6-1 6-3

1925 Akhurst Cozens bt Boyd Robertson 1-6 8-6 6-4

1924 Lance Harper bt Boyd Robertson 6-3 3-6 8-6

1923 Margaret Molesworth bt Boyd Robertson 6-1 7-5

1922 Molesworth bt Boyd Robertson 6-3 10-8

Novak Djokovic will look to rise above the drama that has engulfed him at Melbourne Park and claim a record-extending 10th Australian Open title on Sunday in a generational clash against Stefanos Tsitsipas.

A year after being deported from Australia on the eve of the Grand Slam for lacking COVID-19 vaccination, Djokovic has battled a hamstring strain, heckling spectators and a media storm over his father mixing with fans toting banned Russian flags at the tennis.

In handling everything within his control, though, Djokovic has been supreme.

The Serb’s dominant semi-final victory over American Tommy Paul on Friday stretched his winning streak at the event to a record 27 in the professional era, eclipsing Andre Agassi’s 26-match run between 2000 to 2004.

Never beaten at Melbourne Park after reaching the semis, fourth seed Djokovic is rated an unbackable favourite to triumph again under the floodlights at Rod Laver Arena.

Despite that, the decider presents possibly the best matchup fans could have hoped for following the early exit of injured champion Rafa Nadal.

It offers a rematch of the dramatic 2021 French Open final, in which Djokovic came back from two sets down to snatch the title and leave Greek Tsitsipas heartbroken.

Not that the match was fresh in Djokovic’s memory.

“I think he (Tsitsipas) has never played a (Grand Slam) finals, am I wrong?” Djokovic asked incredulous reporters this week.

The stakes are sky-high for both players.

At 35, Djokovic needs one major title to draw level with 36-year-old Nadal’s 22 in the all-time Grand Slam race. Meanwhile third seed Tsitsipas is desperate to become the first Greek to win a Grand Slam crown, having put the nation on the tennis map.

Whoever wins will take the world number one ranking from Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, who missed the tournament through injury.

At 24, Tsitsipas may feel his time has come. He buried his semi-final hoodoo at Melbourne Park against Russian bruiser Karen Khachanov in four sets on Friday after falling three times previously at the hurdle.

“These are the moments I’ve been working hard for,” said Tsitsipas.

“To be able to play in finals that have a bigger meaning than just the final.”

The atmosphere promises to be electric, and possibly volatile as tension builds.

Melbourne’s strong Greek community, the most populous outside Greece itself, will be in full voice at Rod Laver Arena.

They will rival the army of Serbian supporters who have gorged on Djokovic’s success since his first title at Melbourne Park as a 20-year-old in 2008.

Neutral fans, meanwhile, could well rally behind Tsitsipas in the hope of seeing a genuine contest.

With a huge serve, thumping groundstrokes and comfort on all areas of the court, Tsitsipas has the weapons to trouble anyone on tour. Whether he has the endurance and mental fortitude to dislodge iron man Djokovic remains to be seen.

For all the huff and puff of the younger generation, only Daniil Medvedev has managed to beat the Serb in a completed match at a hardcourt Grand Slam since a shock fourth round loss to Chung Hyeon in the 2018 Australian Open.

Not even Nadal or retired great Roger Federer have ever bested Djokovic in a final at Melbourne Park, and the Serb is hell-bent on extending that incredible record.

“Of course, I have professional goals and ambitions. Those are Grand Slams and being number one in the world,” said Djokovic.

“So I do want to make more history of this sport, no doubt.”