Australian Open: Bencic through to last 16 after Osaka retires with abdominal injury

Swiss Belinda Bencic advanced to the last 16 of the Australian Open when Japanese Naomi Osaka retired at Melbourne Park. Bencic, ranked No 294, led 7-6 (3) when Osaka, ranked No 51, pulled out on Friday night at Melbourne Park.

It was an unfortunate end to a highly anticipated contest between two players who have both returned to the tour following giving birth.

Osaka returned this time last year after 15 months out of action, while 2021 Olympic gold medallist Bencic only just returned at the turn of the new season.

Given this, the Swiss looks remarkably sharp and it was a high-quality encounter until late in the first set when it became clear that Osaka was struggling with a flare up of the abdominal injury that forced her to retire from the final in Auckland.

Bencic : “Sorry for Naomi”

“”I really feel for Naomi I saw her struggling a bit in the end of the set. It’s not the way you want the match to end. It was a good match so hopefully she will be fine soon and can get back winning,” Bencic said after the match.

“She started better than me but I found my rhythm. I tried to focus on myself. I have things to improve but I’m happy with the way I’m playing right now.”

The Swiss will play the winner of the match between American Coco Gauff, the No 3 seed, and Canadian Leylah Fernandez, the No 30 seed, next.

“I will focus on me and do my cool down but I’m sure my coach will watch that match,” Bencic added.

Ahead of her victory, Belinda Bencic defeated Latvian Jelena Ostapenko, the No 16 seed (6-3, 7-6 (6)) and Dutchwoman Suzan Lamens (6-1, 7-6 (3)).

The Japanese won against Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia (6-3, 3-6, 6-3) and No 20 seed Karolina Muchova (1-6, 6-1, 6-3) earlier in the tournament.

Melbourne (Grand Slam), other third-round results (Melbourne Park, hard, USD 60.627.573, most recent results first):

• Madison Keys vs. Danielle Collins
• Elina Svitolina vs. Jasmine Paolini
• Beatriz Haddad Maia vs. Veronika Kudermetova
• Elena Rybakina vs. Dayana Yastremska
• Yulia Putintseva vs. Daria Kasatkina
• Eva Lys vs. Jaqueline Cristian
• Emma Raducanu vs. Iga Swiatek
• Emma Navarro vs. Ons Jabeur
• Olga Danilovic vs. Jessica Pegula
• Coco Gauff vs. Leylah Fernandez
• Mirra Andreeva (14) beat Magdalena Frech (23): 6-2, 1-6, 6-2
• Paula Badosa (11) beat Marta Kostyuk (17): 6-4, 4-6, 6-3
• Aryna Sabalenka (1) beat Clara Tauson: 7-6 (5), 6-4
• Donna Vekic (18) beat Diana Shnaider (12): 7-6 (4), 6-7 (3), 7-5
• Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (27) beat Laura Siegemund: 6-1, 6-2