Mon, Jan 06, 2025 page6

• Taiwan’s Wu wins doubles title in Auckland

  • Staff writer, with AFP, AUCKLAND, New Zealand
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  Taiwan’s Wu Fang-hsien and Jiang Xinyu of China yesterday won the women’s doubles title at the ASB Classic in Auckland, while Naomi Osaka retired from the women’s singles final with an abdominal injury.

  Second seeds Wu and Jiang defeated Serbia’s Aleksandra Krunic and Sabrina Santamaria of the US 6-3, 6-4 on ASB Tennis Centre’s Stadium Court in 1 hour, 5 minutes.

  The WTA 250 victory was 25-year-old Wu’s second WTA Tour title, after winning the 2023 Hua Hin Championships in Thailand with Taiwanese partner Chan Hao-ching. Later that year, Wu and Taiwan’s Hsu Yu-hsiou won the mixed doubles gold at the World University Games in Chengdu, China.

  

  Taiwan’s Wu Fang-hsien, left, and China’s Jiang Xinyu pose with the trophy after beating Serbia’s Aleksandra Krunic and Sabrina Santamaria of the US in the women’s doubles final at the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand, yesterday.

  Photo: AFP

  World No. 52 Wu and world No. 46 Jiang played several tournaments together last year, with their best run at the Washington Open, where they missed out on the title after losing in the final to the US pairing of Taylor Townsend and Asia Muhammad.

  In the women’s singles, Osaka called for a physical therapist after taking the opening set 6-4 against Denmark’s Clara Tauson. The four-time Grand Slam champion pulled out shortly afterward, a blow to the Japanese star just a week before the start of the Australian Open.

  Osaka’s sudden withdrawal came as a shock after playing with no apparent problem in the 35-minute opening set, unleashing some powerful groundstrokes to break her opponent in the third and fifth games.

  

  Taiwan’s Wu Fang-hsien, left, and China’s Jiang Xinyu celebrate their win over Serbia’s Aleksandra Krunic and Sabrina Santamaria of the US in their women’s doubles final at the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand, yesterday.

  Photo: AFP

  At the changeover, the 27-year-old stood and performed a series of stretches during a medical time-out. After consulting with the trainer, she shook the hand of Tauson, who picked up a third career title and her first since 2021.

  Osaka didn’t divulge details of what forced her withdrawal in a short courtside interview.

  However, the WTA said in a statement that she retired “due to an abdominal injury.”

  

  Naomi Osaka of Japan, right, receives treatment during a time-out in her women’s singles final against Clara Tauson of Denmark at the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand, yesterday.

  Photo: AFP

  “I just want to thank everyone for welcoming me to such a beautiful city and I had a lot of fun playing here and I’m really sorry about how it ended,” Osaka said. “I hope you did enjoy the tennis that we did play and I’m just really grateful to be here.”

  It was an anti-climactic finish to the week for Osaka, who was chasing her first title in four years since winning the 2021 Australian Open.

  Fifth seed Tauson conceded she had been outplayed in their lone set.

  

  Clara Tauson of Denmark, left, poses with the trophy alongside Naomi Osaka of Japan, following Osaka’s retirement from their women’s singles final due to an abdominal injury at the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand, yesterday.

  Photo: AFP

  “I felt like today she was picking up an even higher level, so I’m super sad about the way it ended,” world No. 50 Tauson said. “She’s right to put her health first, always, but it’s the worst final I’ve ever played emotionally because I can’t feel happy and I’m just sad about what happened.”

  In Australia, World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka enjoyed the perfect warm-up for this week’s Australian Open when she downed Russian qualifier Polina Kudermetova to win the Brisbane International.

  After finishing runner-up in Brisbane last year, Sabalenka won the 18th title of her career with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory over a gallant Kudermetova in 1 hour, 47 minutes.

  

  Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka celebrates beating Russia’s Polina Kudermetova to win the women’s singles final at the Brisbane International in Australia yesterday.

  Photo: AP

  It was an ideal start to the season for Sabalenka, who would be aiming for her third straight Australian Open crown in Melbourne.

  “I definitely can take a lot of things from this week heading into the Australian Open,” Sabalenka said. “I definitely feel my game is pretty well. Mentally, physically I’ll be ready to go at the Australian Open. Having this trophy going to the major, it’s really important.”

  Australia has become a happy hunting ground for the 26-year-old, who has also won in Adelaide along with her two Australian Open crowns.

  “I’m just excited — I love playing here,” she said. “That’s the conditions where I feel really comfortable in.”
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