Naomi Osaka came desperately close to winning her first title since the 2021 Australian Open at the ASB Classic.
Osaka was delighted to reach the final, her first since 2022, having returned to tennis after the birth of her daughter early last year.
Four-time Grand Slam champion Osaka took the first set 6-4 against Clara Tauson in Auckland, but retired hurt with an abdominal injury.
Osaka had been grateful for Patrick Mouratoglou in New Zealand, with the coach having taken over from Wim Fissette in September.
She reached the ASB Classic quarter-finals in 2017 in her only other appearance at the event, but went much further this time around.
Naomi Osaka issues apology after ASB Classic final loss
But Osaka was reduced to tears in the final of this year’s WTA 250 tournament due to her withdrawal, sharing her regret post-match.
“I just want to thank everyone for welcoming me to such a beautiful city,” said Osaka, as quoted by Tennis Channel.
“I had a lot of fun playing here, and I’m really sorry about how it ended. I hope you enjoyed the tennis that we did play, and I’m just really grateful to be here.”
Clara Tauson ‘not really’ happy despite ASB Classic win over Naomi Osaka
Osaka can be extremely proud of her efforts in New Zealand, having dropped just one set en route to the final.
Tauson was, however, the first seeded player the seventh seed faced in five matches, with the Dane clinching her third tour-level title and first since the 2021 Luxembourg Open.
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While she will be delighted to return to winning ways, the 22-year-old was sorry to see her first meeting with Osaka end in a retirement.
“I have to say that I’m really sorry about this final,” said Tauson. “Naomi was playing some great tennis today, so that was the worst final I ever played, for me, emotionally.
“I can’t feel happy, and I’m just sad about what happened today, but of course, when I process this, I’m going to be super happy about this week. I played a lot of tennis on this court. I’m happy that I won, but not really.”
The future is certainly bright for Tauson, who overcame the likes of Sofia Kenin and top seed Madison Keys on her way to ASB Classic success.
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