Osaka forced to retire with an injury in the Australian Open third round.

By Lehlohonolo Lehana.

Two-time Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka retired with an injury during her third-round match against Belinda Bencic on Friday in Melbourne.

Osaka needed treatment on her stomach from the trainer at 6-5 in a first set which she went on to lose on a tie break to her Swiss opponent, before shaking hands and leaving the court.

“At this moment, I just feel for Naomi. I saw her struggling a little bit in the end of the set,” Bencic said in her on-court interview. “Obviously it’s not the way you would like that match to end.”

Bencic, playing her first major since giving birth to daughter Bella last April, equaled her best prior showing here—having also advanced to the round of 16 in 2016 and 2023. The 27-year-old was facing Osaka for the first time since losing to the Japanese superstar in the 2022 Miami Open semifinals.

The Tokyo Olympic champion will face the winner of world No. 3 Coco Gauff and No. 30 seed Leylah Fernandez.

Meanwhile top seed Aryna Sabalenka continued her bid for a third consecutive Australian Open title with victory over Denmark’s Clara Tauson in straight sets.

The 26-year-old Belarusian was made to work for her 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 win on Rod Laver Arena but secured victory in two hours six minutes to progress to the fourth round.

“That was a great battle,” said Sabalenka.

“She played unbelievable tennis. It was really tough to play against her today.

“I’m just super happy that I was able to just stay in the game and I was able to push myself, honestly, to the limit to get this win.”

Sabalenka will face Poland’s Magdalena Frech or teenage 14th seed Mirra Andreeva in the next round.

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