Jimmy Connors explains what Naomi Osaka has recently done which he finds very 'hard to understand'

Jimmy Connors is struggling to wrap his head around Naomi Osaka retiring from the ASB Classic final.

The four-time Grand Slam champion reached her first WTA Tour final since 2022 when she took on Clara Tauson in New Zealand.

The Dane claimed some impressive wins, knocking out the likes of American duo of Madison Keys and Sofia Kenin on her journey to the championship match.

But after losing the first set Tauson ended up with the ASB Classic trophy in her grasp, without needing to come from behind to win.

Jimmy Connors reacts to Naomi Osaka retiring from the ASB Classic final

Naomi Osaka was just one set away from claiming the eighth singles title of her career.

She was producing some impressive tennis against Tauson and opened up a 5-1 lead in set one before closing out the set 6-3.

Then, to the surprise of many, Osaka took an immediate timeout, before deciding she could no longer continue and Tauson was declared the champion.

On the latest episode of his ‘Advantage Connors podcast,’ Connors found the timing of Osaka’s decision to pull out confusing.

“My first thought is Osaka. Retired up a set, that hardly ever happens,” Connors said. “Usually they are getting beaten and they say ‘oh I have had enough’.

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“Obviously her game is in order and the Australian is coming up. But it’s the first tournament of the year, come on. It’s not like you have played six weeks in a row.

“It’s the first tournament of the year and you are really just breaking in and getting the feel of how your game is and competing and trying to figure out everything you have added over the two or three day off season!

“I don’t know. To get hurt right at the beginning and to pull out. That’s hard for me to understand.”

Photo by MICHAEL BRADLEY/AFP via Getty Images

Naomi Osaka reacts after pulling out of ASB Classic final

Osaka began her season in a very positive way by reaching her first final since the 2022 Miami Open where she lost to Iga Swiatek.

She had built some confidence and momentum ahead of trying to win the Australian Open for a third time.

But though she suffered an injury in New Zealand, the former World number one is confident that her ailment will not prevent her from competing at the Australian Open.

“I’m having an MRI today to assess,” Osaka was quoted saying by ESPN. “I don’t feel that it’s too serious and I still feel very optimistic about AO.”

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