Naomi Osaka ’s return to Grand Slam competition ended prematurely on Friday, as the two-time Australian Open champion was forced to retire from her third-round match against Belinda Bencic due to a strained abdominal muscle. Osaka had dropped the opening set in a tiebreaker, 7-6 (3), before informing the chair umpire she could no longer continue.

She was courtside in Brooklyn on Wednesday night to see the Nets take on the Phoenix Suns in the NBA, with Kevin Durant scoring 24 points on his return to his old team.

World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka kicks off the second week of the Australian Open against teenager Mirra Andreeva, while Coco Gauff takes on Belinda Bencic for a spot in the quarterfinals.

A "very hot-headed" Novak Djokovic produced a vintage display to join Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev in the Australian Open last 16 on Friday, but Naomi Osaka's bid for a

Two-time Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka has stopped playing because of an injury after dropping the opening set of her third-round match against Belinda Bencic.

When Osaka struggled to lift her arm during the match, it became clear that she was struggling with another abdominal injury. It all began last Fall during her match against Coco Gauff in the China Open. An MRI revealed a bulged disc in her back and ruptured abdominal muscles.

Naomi Osaka is out of the Australian Open after she was forced to retire injured from her third-round match against Belinda Bencic.

Naomi Osaka was forced to retire from her third round clash against Belinda Bencic at the Australian Open after losing the first set on a tiebreak at Melbourne Park.

Novak Djokovic, Coco Gauff roll to Australian Open's 4th round. Naomi Osaka retires due to injury and Jessica Pegula was upset in the third round.

For the second time in the 2025 season, Coco Gauff defeated Leylah Fernandez in straight sets to reach the Australian Open fourth round.

The epilogue of the awaited 3rd round match between Naomi Osaka and Belinda Bencic worried the fans of the Japanese, who was forced to withdraw due to a new injury: and this of the Australian Open 2025 is the second in a row, after the one in Auckland.

Osaka's dreams of a 2025 Australian Open title ended Friday as she was forced to retire with an abdominal injury.