Naomi Osaka Withdraws In Third Round Of Australian Open 2025 Due To Injury

Naomi Osaka was forced to withdraw in the Third Round of the Australian Open 2025 due to injury (Instagram/@naomiosaka).

JAKARTA - Naomi Osaka resigned from the third round match of the Australian Open 2025 on Friday, January 17, 2025, due to injury after losing in the first set 6(3)-7 to Belinda Hatic.

"It's a bit difficult to deal with (belly injury) because obviously my draw was quite difficult," said Osaka, as reported by the WTA.

"However, we also do everything we can, like I undergo therapy every day and things like that until late at night. So, the days feel very long for me."

"Obviously after my last match, his condition got much worse. So, praise for him for being a very good opponent," said the Japanese tennis player.

"But, yes, I think, it's just, I think, a little inevitable, but I think the competitive soul in me just wants to see that until the end," he said again.

Osaka started the 2025 season by advancing to the 2025 ASB Classic final in Auckland, New Zealand. There, Osaka won the first set over Clara Tauson before suddenly resigning due to a stomach injury.

Osaka was forced to resign from her last three tournaments, having ended the 2024 season at the China Open with a back injury against Coco Gauff.

Hatic, who played in his first Grand Slam since giving birth to his daughter, advanced to its first round of 16 in major tournaments since the US Open 2023.

Face-to-face for the first time since the Miami Open 2022, Osaka is 5-3 ahead in the opening set as she begins to change its service movement to compensate for her discomfort.

Hatic broke service and lasted before Osaka took a medical break to assess her injury. Hatic played a tiebreak with discipline to score 7-3 after 57 minutes.

Hatec, the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic gold medalist, has played its third tour tier since returning to competition in October 2024.

After successfully going through a series of ITF events and finals at WTA 125 in Angers, France, to end the year, he opened the 2025 season with the first WTA win from his return appearance at the United Cup.

He built the success by reaching the last 16 at Adelaide International a week later.

"If we don't enter the United Cup as a Swiss team, I'll even consider not playing here in Australia," Hatic said.

"Because I think it's too early. However, I'm happy we came here," he said.

Hatec (27) will face world number three Coco Gauff in the fourth round. The Swiss star has been trying to reach his first quarter-final Grand Slam since the US Open 2021.

"Obviously (Coco) is one of the best players in the world right now. I watched him for a while when I've only been lying on the sofa for the past nine months."

"Of course, it's about winning. That's why we're here. However, right now, I still want to call it a test," said the 27-year-old.

"I came here to see how the results were. Obviously I don't expect to be in the fourth half."

"So, I will not change my expectations based on the results here," said Hatic.