Aryna Sabalenka full of praise for Clara Tauson after beating her in Melbourne - The defending champion came through 7-6 (5) 6-4 but Naomi Osaka pulled out of her match through injury.

The abdominal injury that caused Naomi Osaka to retire from the Auckland final with a one-set lead over Clara Tauson less than two weeks ago struck again Friday, forcing the four-time major champion to cut a promising Australian Open short.

A persistent abdominal injury started troubling Osaka during the first set of her match on Friday, with the 27-year-old calling for medical attention when up 6-5. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Naomi Osaka forced to retire hurt at Australian Open. She played on until the end of the first set tiebreaker, which Bencic won, before calling it quits.

Belinda Bencic gave a special signature on the camera with a heartfelt message after Naomi Osaka retired midway from her Round 3 match on Friday due to injury.

Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka was forced to retire due to injury after one set on Friday, sending Belinda Bencic into the round of 16 with a 7-6(3) RET victory. Osaka,

The top seed is probably happy with her decision, because now she has to go up against Andreeva again, in a much bigger event. The last time these two played at a Slam, at Roland Garros in 2024, Andreeva pulled off an upset in three close sets.

MELBOURNE -- Belinda Bencic advanced to the Round of 16 at the Australian ... There, Osaka won the first set over Clara Tauson before abruptly retiring due to an abdominal injury. Osaka has been forced to retire from her last three tournaments, having ...

Coco Gauff rallied from a set down to beat Belinda Bencic 5-7 6-2 6-1 on Sunday to reach the quarter-finals of the Australian Open and extend her winning streak from the start of the season to nine matches.

Sabalenka's fourth-round challenge will be the 14th seed Mirra Andreeva, who she leads 3-1 in head-to-head record. Andreeva secured her first win against Sabalenka at the French Open quarterfinals last year.

Belinda Bencic (No. 294) will take on Naomi Osaka (No. 51) in the Round of 32 at the Australian Open on Thursday, January 16.Osaka secured a three-set victory over Karolina Muchova (1-6, 6-1, 6-3)

Osaka was leading 5-2 and pushing Bencic all across the court ... She was a set up against Clara Tauson in Auckland when the injury forced her to retire. Scans on the injury were “not great ...

Coco Gauff rallied from a set down to beat Belinda Bencic 5-7 6-2 6-1 on Sunday to reach the quarterfinals of the Australian Open and extend her winning streak from the start of the season to nine matches.