BAD HOMBURG, Germany (AP) — Naomi Osaka's Wimbledon preparations received a setback when she retired at the start of the second set in Saturday's Bad Homburg Open final because of a foot injury.
The fourth-seeded Japanese player, in her first grass-court final, was trailing 6-1, 1-0 to Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic when she pulled out.
Osaka had taken a medical timeout in the first set. Then, after gesturing she could not continue, she walked over to shake hands with Muchova and the umpire.
“I just want to say thank you to everyone who came to watch the match,” Osaka told the crowd during the trophy ceremony. “I apologise for not being able to finish, but this atmosphere was incredible the whole week."
A four-time Grand Slam champion, the 28-year-old Osaka has never been beyond the third round at Wimbledon, which begins on Monday.
Seeded No. 14, she is scheduled to play Elsa Jacquemot in the first round.
It was 11th-ranked Muchova's third career title from nine tour-level finals, and her first on grass.
The final was moved forward by two and a half hours to 11 a.m. local time (0900 GMT) to avoid the worst of the day's heat as much of Europe endures often record-breaking temperatures.
AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
Japan's Naomi Osaka returns to Czech Republic's Karolina Muchova in the final of the Bad Homburg Open WTA tennis tournament in Bad Homburg, Germany, Saturday, June 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
Czech Republic's Karolina Muchova , right, talks to Japan's Naomi Osaka after the final of the Bad Homburg Open WTA tennis tournament in Bad Homburg, Germany, Saturday, June 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Probst2
Japan's Naomi Osaka reacts after losing against Czech Republic's Karolina Muchova in the final of the Bad Homburg Open WTA tennis tournament in Bad Homburg, Germany, Saturday, June 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
NOTTINGHAM, England (AP) — Harry Brook made an unbeaten half-century for England but New Zealand was on top at lunch on Day 3 of the third and final test after taking four wickets in the morning session on Saturday.
Brook was 51 not out and Gus Atkinson unbeaten on 8 as the home team reached the interval on 314-6 at Trent Bridge, replying to New Zealand's first-innings 438.
Resuming on 223-2, England lost its first wicket when Joe Root was trapped lbw for 21 by an inswinging delivery from Nathan Smith.
Jacob Bethell followed soon after, caught at second slip by New Zealand captain Tom Latham off Will O'Rourke's bowling for 74.
Jamie Smith did not last long, snapped up low down at first slip by Daryl Mitchell off namesake Smith with his score on 1.
Ben Stokes was then dropped on 1 by Devon Conway, a difficult low chance as he dived to his right off the dangerous Smith.
But Stokes, back in the team along with Atkinson after they were dropped for the second test for disciplinary reasons, was eventually removed for 15. Zak Foulkes, a concussion substitute for Blair Tickner, claimed the wicket of the England captain with another sharp inswinging delivery.
Atkinson then survived an lbw appeal just before lunch when a DRS review showed the ball was going over the stumps. Smith has figures of 3-85 and O'Rourke 2-49.
Latham (151) and Devon Conway (157) were the stars of the show with a huge 317-run partnership for the first wicket in New Zealand's first innings.
The series is level at 1-1.
AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket
England's Joe Root walks off the field after being bowled out by New Zealand's Nathan Smith via lbw during day three of the Third Test cricket match between England and New Zealand, in Nottingham, England, Saturday June 27, 2026. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)
England's Joe Root, foreground, reacts after being bowled out by New Zealand's Nathan Smith via lbw during day three of the Third Test cricket match between England and New Zealand, in Nottingham, England, Saturday June 27, 2026. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)
England's Joe Root, center right, reacts after being bowled out by New Zealand's Nathan Smith via lbw during day three of the Third Test cricket match between England and New Zealand, in Nottingham, England, Saturday June 27, 2026. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)
England's Ben Stokes, left, is bowled out by New Zealand's Zak Foulkes, during day three of the Third Test cricket match between England and New Zealand, in Nottingham, England, Saturday June 27, 2026. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)
New Zealand's Nathan Smith celebrates bowling out England's Joe Root via lbw, during day three of the Third Test cricket match between England and New Zealand, in Nottingham, England, Saturday June 27, 2026. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)
