Naomi Osaka (WTA 3) gave more explanation on Saturday in Melbourne about her forfeit for the semi-finals of the Gippsland Trophy, one of the three preparation tournaments for the Australian Open. The 23-year-old Japanese, last year winner of the US Open, was to meet Elise Mertens (WTA 20) in the last four, but was absent with a shoulder injury.
“Most everyone knows that since the 2018 tournament in Beijing, I have had minor problems with my shoulder,” Osaka explained at the press conference. The pain came back after playing several games in a row. The Australian Open remains the main goal and therefore it was the best decision to take a break. ‘
Osaka won the Australian Open in 2019. Last year she was killed in the third round against American teen sensation Cori Gauff. On Monday she will start the 2021 edition against the Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (WTA 39), last year’s quarter-finalist.
“The fact that I already had to play on Monday also played a role in my decision,” the Japanese, who is trained by Wim Fissette, continued. ‘Normally I never play a tournament the week before a Grand Slam. Now I thought it necessary to have a few matches in the legs. That has also given me confidence. I think everyone has that ambiguous feeling pretty much. But I am happy with the decision I made. ‘
Mertens, who meets the Estonian Kaia Kanepi (WTA 94) in the final, would have liked to play against Osaka. The match would have been a good measure of value for the upcoming Australian Open. “It is always fun to play matches,” said the Belgian number 1. “It would certainly have been a plus to play against Osaka. It’s a shame because I could have seen where I was with my level of play. On the other hand, a rest day before the final is always welcome. ‘
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