Naomi Osaka retires injured in Auckland final to hand title to Clara Tauson, Coco Gauff beats Iga Swiatek in United Cup

Naomi Osaka was forced to retire from the final of the ASB Classic in Auckland with an abdominal injury, raising concerns about her fitness with the first Grand Slam of the season just one week away. The title went to Dane Clara Tauson, the world No. 50 lifting her first trophy since 2021 after a week of inspired tennis, while Aryna Sabalenka won in Brisbane and Coco Gauff beat Iga Swiatek.

Osaka on retiring from Auckland final with injury – ‘I should stick to my superstitions!’

Video credit: SNTV

Naomi Osaka was forced to retire from her first final in nearly three years in Auckland, handing the title to Clara Tauson.

Osaka had taken the first set 6-4 despite a Tauson fightback, but was showing signs of discomfort at the change of ends and had to call it quits with an abdominal injury after taking a medical time out.

It meant Tauson bagged her first title since 2021, but the world No. 50 could not overly celebrate her victory given the manner in which it arrived.

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"It’s not the way you want to win any match, and especially not the final," Tauson said in her on-court interview. "I felt like I had some more tennis to show today."

For Osaka, it is a worrying end to a tournament that had seen the four-time slam champion show some good form heading into Melbourne.

She dropped just one set on her way to the final, to Hailey Baptiste in the quarter-finals, and was starting to look back to something approaching her best.

With the Australian Open just a week away, Osaka’s injury will be a worry with the two-time Melbourne champ still searching for a deep run at a slam since returning last year from maternity leave.

For Tauson, though, the result will lift the Dane further up the rankings from her current spot of 50, although it will likely come too late for her to be seeded for the first Grand Slam of the year.

"I’m looking forward to going to Australia," Tauson continued. "Hopefully I can back [this] up with some great results there. It’s definitely a nice start to the season with the title, it’s my first one since 2021, so it’s been a while for me."

Gauff defeats struggling Swiatek in straight sets

Coco Gauff was at her very best as she beat world No. 2 Iga Swiatek 6-4 6-4 in the United Cup final to give the US a 1-0 lead in the team format. She had too much power for Swiatek, who looked tired after a long week.

Swiatek looked to be struggling for rhythm as well as dealing with a thigh injury.

"I think just confidence [was the difference]," Gauff said after the match, which lasted just under two hours.

"I have the belief I am one of the best players in the world. Today I just played great tennis and I'm happy to get a point on the board for Team USA.

"I gave my best effort, and that's all the team can ask of me."

'I got the shovel out!' - Gauff on victory celebrations as Team USA win United Cup

Video credit: SNTV

Taylor Fritz then produced his very best tennis to defeat Hubert Hurkacz in three tight sets and seal the United Cup for Team USA.

Fritz prevailed 6-4 5-7 7-6(4) against an opponent who at times looked on top in the final set, as he tried in vain to force the final into a deciding mixed doubles tie.

"The margins were very small," Fritz admitted afterwards, before calling Team USA's victory "amazing."

Fritz and Hurkacz were expected to produce a serving masterclass, but while there were some aces on show under the lights in Sydney, there were also plenty of enthralling rallies.

The two were well-matched throughout the encounter, with Hurkacz producing the shot of the night in the third set, a clutch volley after a desperate sprint that resulted in him toppling to the ground in a full splits position, much to the astonishment of the crowd.

But in the end it was Fritz who managed to sneak across the line with a huge forehand winner, his scream of triumph showing just what the title meant to the world No. 4.

Sabalenka lifts Brisbane title

Defending Australian open champion Aryna Sabalenka got her year off to the perfect start by winning the Brisbane International title, defeating unseeded Polina Kudermetova in three sets.

Kudermetova upset the odds by taking the first set from her powerful opponent, but Sabalenka got into a better rhythm in the second set before sweeping to victory 4-6 6-3 6-2.

The world No. 1 remains the favourite to lift the Australian Open title for a third straight year, and has won her warm-up tournament on Australian soil just as she did in 2023 on her way to her maiden Slam triumph.

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