Naomi Osaka fought valiantly against Coco Gauff at the China Open despite carrying an injury.
On Tuesday, two of the WTA Tour’s superstar players competed against one another for the first time since the 2022 San Jose Open.
It was a thrilling contest which saw Osaka go up a set and a break against the World number six, but she was unable to sustain her advantage and retired from the match immediately after losing the second set.
Osaka was trying to win her fourth successive match for the first time since returning to the tour in January after giving birth.
But a lower back injury prevented her battling Coco Gauff in a final set as Osaka was forced to retire from the China Open.
What does Miles Maclagan think made Naomi Osaka’s injury worse at the China Open?
It appeared Naomi Osaka was carrying an injury when she called the trainer during a changeover while trailing 3-2 in the first set.
However, she continued to fight and went on to win the first set. Osaka then opened up a lead in the second after breaking Gauff’s serve to move ahead 4-3.
But a double fault on break point cost her dearly, as Gauff won three games in a row to clinch the second set, before Osaka could no longer continue.
Miles Maclagan, who was commentating on the match, thinks Osaka’s back worsened throughout the second set which ultimately cost her a chance of winning.
“Gauff at times having to use her athleticism just trying to get one more ball into play. Osaka attacked the forehand side and got some joy there at times,” he explained.
“Osaka was a set and a break up and perhaps a little bit of tension, the feet maybe not quite as lively as they had been and that did not help the situation with the back.
“Gauff looked as though she was emotionally struggling a bit because she had thrown up a few doubles faults, but was able to show the best of her mental strength and bounce back and make life difficult and turn it around at the end.”
Naomi Osaka reacts after retiring from China Open match against Coco Gauff
Gauff helped the former World number one carry her bags off court before returning to conduct an on-court interview.
Osaka has since taken to social media to address fans following her retirement from the China Open.
“Hi everyone just wanted to say I’m extremely thankful and happy to have played in Beijing,” Osaka said via Threads. “That being said I feel like I owe a little backstory about today.
“So I locked my back up during practice earlier and honestly wasn’t sure if I could even play but I just wanted to try, unfortunately things just got progressively worse during the match. Totally worth it though.” Gauff is now into the quarter-finals where she will play Ukraine’s Yulia Starodubtsewa.
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