Tennis-Injured Osaka 'very optimistic' about Australian Open

FILE PHOTO: Tennis - China Open - China National Tennis Center, Beijing, China - September 30, 2024 Japan's Naomi Osaka in action during her round of 32 match against Katie Volynets of the U.S. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/File Photo

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Naomi Osaka will undergo a scan on the injury that forced her to pull out of the Auckland Classic final but remains optimistic about playing at the Australian Open, the former world number one said on Monday.

Osaka, the 2019 and 2021 champion at Melbourne Park, was reduced to tears on Sunday when an abdominal injury forced her to quit while leading Clara Tauson 6-4 in her first WTA final in almost three years.