INJURED OSAKA ‘VERY OPTIMISTIC’

SYDNEY. — 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 number one 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.”

Osaka, who returned to the tour a year ago after a long maternity break, had shown glimpses of the form that won her four major titles on her run to the final in Auckland.

She broke back into the top 50 in the world rankings yesterday.

The Australian Open begins on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova pulled out of this month’s Australian Open due to a back problem, the Czech said on Sunday, while Caroline Wozniacki and Karolina Pliskova will also miss the year’s first Grand Slam.

World number 10 Krejcikova, a surprise winner at the All England Club last year, sustained the injury in the WTA Tour’s Asian swing of tournaments and looked to be affected by it at the season-ending WTA Finals in Riyadh in November.

“I wanted to share a quick update regarding my withdrawal from the Australian Open,” Krejcikova, last year’s Australian Open quarter-finalist, said on social media platform X.

“Unfortunately, my back injury, which troubled me at the end of last season, is still not fully healed.

“It’s disappointing because I love playing in Melbourne and have such great memories from reaching the quarter-finals last year … I’m working hard to get back to full health.

“I can’t wait to see you on the court soon.”

Nuria Parrizas Diaz will take Krejcikova’s spot in the draw.

Former Melbourne champion Wozniacki was replaced in the draw by Yuliia Starodubtseva, the Australian Open said. Pliskova will be replaced by Canada’s Rebecca Marino. — Reuters.