Injured Osaka ‘very optimistic’ about Australian Open

Naomi Osaka will undergo a scan on the injury that forced her to pull out of the Auckland Classic final but remains optimistic about playing at the Australian Open, the former world No 1 said on Monday. Osaka, the 2019 and 2021 champion at Melbourne Park, was reduced to tears on Sunday when an abdominal […]

Naomi Osaka will undergo a scan on the injury that forced her to pull out of the Auckland Classic final but remains optimistic about playing at the Australian Open, the former world No 1 said on Monday.

Osaka, the 2019 and 2021 champion at Melbourne Park, was reduced to tears on Sunday when an abdominal injury forced her to quit while leading Clara Tauson 6-4 in her first WTA final in almost three years.

“I’m having an MRI today to assess,” the 27-year-old said in a brief statement.

“I don’t feel that it’s too serious and I still feel very optimistic about AO.”

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The Australian Open begins on Sunday