Two-time Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka said “it sucks” after retiring on Friday with a stomach muscle injury during her third-round match against Belinda Bencic here. Osaka needed treatment at 6-5 in a first set which she went on to lose on a tiebreak to her Swiss opponent, before shaking hands and leaving the court. 

The former No. 1 had a disrupted build-up to the first Grand Slam of the year, retiring from the final in Auckland, again with an abdominal injury. “I mean, it was a little hectic trying to manage it because obviously my draw was quite tough,” Osaka told reporters.