Naomi Osaka during a press conference. (Getty Images)
Defending Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka wished Caroline Wozniacki a fun retirement as the latter decided to retire after suffering a third-round loss at the ongoing Australian Open today.
The former World No.1, Wozniacki, witnessed her impressive tennis career coming to an end as she went down to Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur 7-5, 3-6, 7-5 at the Melbourne Arena.
Osaka, who is currently playing her third-round match against America’s teenage sensation Coco Gauff, shared her thoughts on Wozniacki.
“I want to say thank you so much for being the first person that let me hit with you. I was super nervous on the day that, I can’t say how much but it’s been fun,”
She went on to add that Wozniacki had beaten her a couple of times and that she finally got one back by defeating her in their last encounter.
“I hope that you have a fun retirement and I know that you’re super happy,” Osaka concluded.
Osaka and Wozniacki have met three times in the past before and the latter has a 1-2 head-to-head advantage against the former.
However, Osaka had the last laugh last time around overcoming Wozniacki 6-4, 6-2 in the semifinal of the China Open in October last year.
Ranked 36th currently, Wozniacki had made her intention to retire public in November. Moreover, it couldn’t have been better for the 29-year old, who decided to end her 15-year tennis career at the venue where she won her only Grand Slam title.
The Dane is leaving the court after having spent 71 weeks as the world number one and has 30 WTA titles to her credit.
“It has been a great ride,” said the emotional Dane on Melbourne Arena. “It is fitting my last match would be a three-setter, a grinder, and I’d finish my career with a forehand error – those are the things I have been working on my whole career,” joked Wozniacki.
Many of the current players and fans were quick to react as they took to twitter to offer Wozniacki their wishes.
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