Naomi Osaka has raised concerns ahead of Wimbledon after retiring during the Bad Homburg final due to a foot injury, just days before the Grand Slam begins.
The four-time Grand Slam champion was forced to stop early in the second set of her final against Karolína Muchová after trailing 6–1, 1–0.
Osaka had already taken a medical timeout in the opening set before ultimately deciding she could not continue, walking to the net to shake hands with Muchová and the chair umpire.
“I couldn’t finish the match”
Speaking after the match during the trophy ceremony, Osaka addressed the crowd:
“I just want to say thank you to everyone who came to watch the match. I apologise for not being able to finish, but this atmosphere was incredible the whole week.”
Despite the disappointment, Osaka emphasized her appreciation for the tournament atmosphere in what was her first grass-court final appearance.
Wimbledon preparation disrupted
The timing of the injury is particularly concerning as Wimbledon begins on Monday.
Naomi Osaka, seeded No.14, is scheduled to face Elsa Jacquemot in her opening-round match on Court No.3.
Osaka has historically struggled at Wimbledon, never progressing beyond the third round. This latest setback now casts doubt over her physical readiness for the tournament.
What the injury could mean
Foot injuries are especially problematic on grass courts, where movement and balance are critical. With limited recovery time before her first-round match, Osaka’s participation level and competitiveness may depend heavily on medical assessment in the coming days.
Even if she does take to the court, mobility and endurance could be significantly affected.
Karolína Muchová continues momentum
For Karolína Muchová, the victory marked a strong conclusion to her grass-court campaign, with a dominant performance before Osaka’s retirement.
Muchová has been building momentum on the surface and now heads into Wimbledon with increased confidence and form.
Madison Keys claims Eastbourne title
In the other WTA warm-up event, Madison Keys captured her third Eastbourne Open title after defeating Tatjana Maria 7–5, 6–4.
Keys praised the tournament atmosphere and reflected on her long-standing success at the event:
“I won my first title here many years ago, so to win for a third time means the world.”
Wimbledon outlook
Osaka’s injury adds an extra layer of uncertainty to the women’s draw heading into Wimbledon 2026. While she remains one of the most dangerous players in the field when fully fit, her physical condition will now be one of the key early storylines of the tournament.
With several top seeds already in action across the opening days, any limitation to a major contender like Osaka could significantly reshape the early rounds.