
As Naomi Osaka walked towards her, Clara Tauson didn鈥檛 know what to say.
The Japanese tennis star had just been forced out of the ASB Classic final with injury after one set, meaning that Tauson had won in the most unexpected way. An eerie hush had come over the crowd at the Manuka Doctor arena, while Tauson was also struggling to process what had happened.
鈥淚鈥檝e never been in her position or mine so I was a bit shocked and she was crying,鈥� revealed Tauson. 鈥淚 wanted to cry because it鈥檚 just very emotional because you鈥檙e an athlete and you know how hard it is to pull out from a match.
鈥淚鈥檝e been dealing with back problems for many years now, and I know how she鈥檚 feeling because you never want to walk away from any match at all, but especially not a final where you won the first set. It鈥檚 got to be very difficult.鈥�
Hours after the final 鈥� which marked her third title at this level and her first since 2021 鈥� Tauson was still uneasy with the unusual circumstances.
Though proud of her week鈥檚 work, where she survived a match point in the second round against Sofia Kenin, eliminated top seed Madison Keys and played singles twice on Saturday after weather disruption, the 22-year-old wasn鈥檛 in the mood to celebrate.
鈥淚t鈥檚 still a bit weird,鈥� said Tauson. 鈥淚鈥檓 trying to focus mostly on the four other matches I played here.
鈥淚鈥檓 happy to get the trophy and the title, but obviously not the way I wanted to win. I鈥檓 just hoping Naomi鈥檚 going to be ready for the Australian Open because she played a great first set [on Sunday].鈥�
Tauson didn鈥檛 notice anything was awry until the final game of the set, when she felt Osaka wasn鈥檛 serving at 鈥渇ull power鈥�.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 know if it was the wind or she had pain,鈥� said Tauson. 鈥淲hen she won the set [6-4] my coach said 鈥楽omething鈥檚 wrong with her鈥� because he could see her [coaching] box.
鈥淗e said that 鈥業 think Patrick Mouratoglou told her to stop playing鈥� but I don鈥檛 know, I didn鈥檛 see it and I was thinking I don鈥檛 want to hear that. I was really trying to stay focused because you never know if an opponent is going keep playing or not.鈥�
A few minutes after calling the WTA doctor on to court for a check, Osaka pulled the pin, then walked across to congratulate Tauson.
鈥淪he didn鈥檛 say much,鈥� revealed Tauson. 鈥淚 was just saying to her that she played great and I was really sorry that it had to end that way. I just said that I was hoping she was going to be ready for the Australian Open.
鈥淪he was obviously not feeling great and it鈥檚 understandable. She had a long way coming back here and she鈥檚 been playing great this week.鈥�
That was apparent from the start, as Osaka raced to a 5-1 lead, with some big serves and crushing returns. Tauson steadied with a couple of tough holds 鈥� and a break of her own 鈥� to at least get a foothold in the match.
鈥淚 felt like I was going to come back and hopefully play a little bit better in the second set, said Tauson. 鈥淪he was taking everything early and hitting a lot of winners in the first set. I knew I was playing Naomi Osaka. You know that you鈥檙e not going to get a big chance, and if you do, you better take it.鈥�
Regardless of the unorthodox finish, Tauson had a brilliant week. She ground out four tough wins and even had success in doubles (two rounds), her first at this level.
鈥淚 had a great Asian swing at the end of the year, so I was really looking forward to try to build on that here, and I obviously did,鈥� said Tauson. 鈥淚t鈥檚 looking good but it鈥檚 tennis. You never know what鈥檚 going to happen.鈥�
Aside from answering one question on court during the trophy ceremony, Osaka did not complete any media commitments on Sunday night, or give an update on her condition. It鈥檚 difficult to confirm the nature of the injury but appeared to be an abdominal strain, from observing the consultation with the doctor.
- NZ Herald
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