Naomi Osaka comes under fire from Jimmy Connors for Auckland final retirement

Naomi Osaka came under fire from Jimmy Connors for retiring mid-match during the final of the ASB Classic in Auckland. The American couldn't wrap his head around why the Japanese would make such a decision.

Connors shared his thoughts on the incident in the latest episode of his Advantage Connors podcast. He expressed his disapproval of Naomi Osaka's decision to retire, pointing out that it was only the first tournament of the year and suggesting she should have been better prepared during the off-season.

It's the first tournament of the year, come on," Connors said (at 14:00). "It's not like you played six weeks in a row. I mean, it's the first tournament of the year and you're really just breaking in and getting the feel and how your game is and competing and trying to figure out all the work that you've done and everything you've added over the two or three-day off-season."

"I mean, to get hurt right at the beginning and to pull out, that's hard for me to understand because I've got amnesia with a lot of things that happened in my time with me and stuff. But once I got into the game and once I wanted to start the year, I was ready. I was ready physically and mentally and eager to get into it," the American added.

While 2024 didn’t go as planned for Osaka, she began 2025 on a high note in Auckland. She overcame Lina Glushko, Julia Grabher, Hailey Baptiste, and Alycia Parks to secure a spot in the final.

The four-time Grand Slam champion faced Clara Tauson in the championship match and won the first set comfortably with a score of 6-4. However, after consulting with her team, she was seen in tears and retired from the match due to an abdominal injury.

Naomi Osaka to leave Auckland heartbreak behind & kick off Australian Open campaign

Naomi Osaka pictured at the 2025 Australian Open | Image Source: Getty

Auckland was indeed heartbreaking for Naomi Osaka, as she came so close to lifting a trophy after years but fell short. To add to the emotional toll, she also announced her breakup with ex-boyfriend Cordae, with whom she shares her daughter, Shai, right after the tournament.

Now, Osaka is set to move past the disappointment and focus on the Australian Open. She will begin her campaign on Monday, January 13, against Caroline Garcia.

The duo have faced off four times on the WTA Tour so far, with a 2-2 head-to-head record. Three of their encounters took place in 2024, with Garcia winning two of them.