Osaka forced to retire at Australian Open, Sabalenka overcomes wobbles
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Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic advanced to the last 16 of the Australian Open after two-time champion Naomi Osaka retired during Friday’s third-round match with an injury. Bencic took the first set in a tie-break 7-6(3) before Japan’s Osaka, who had also pulled out of the Auckland final earlier this month due to an abdominal injury, withdrew from the contest. Osaka led 5-2 in the opening set but showed signs of struggles with her abdomen and called for a physio during a changeover. The 27-year-old initially soldiered on after treatment before eventually retiring.
![[Aryna Sabalenka screams]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/96bded94543a30b7293ab370e5be13dc9727143f/0_0_2284_1553/master/2284.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
“I really feel for Naomi, I saw her struggling a little bit at the end of the set and obviously it’s not the way you would like this match to end,” Bencic said. “I thought it was a good match so hopefully she’ll be fine soon and she can play well for the rest of the season.” Bencic will play either third seed Coco Gauff or Leylah Fernandez in the next round.
![[Mirra Andreeva serves against Magdalena Frech]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/e833ac2eb2b80114dcb724111ba654f130b53a74/0_0_5600_3733/master/5600.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka overcame a wobbly display to reach the fourth round as warm and windy weather tested the composure of players. The opening match on Rod Laver Arena during the sixth day of the championships was hardly vintage tennis, but Sabalenka came away unscathed after a 7-6(5), 6-4 victory over Clara Tauson amid blazing sunshine and intermittent gusts.
“That was a great battle, she played unbelievable tennis,” said three-times grand slam champion Sabalenka. “I was playing this match thinking: ‘Girl, you’re really tough.’ So many times, I thought ‘I’m done’, but I was like, ‘keep pushing’.”.
