Naomi Osaka, a former world number one in tennis, was defeated by Maria Sakkari in straight sets at the United Cup in Perth.
The match, held on Friday night, concluded with a score of 6-4, 6-2 in favor of Sakkari, currently ranked 52nd globally.
Osaka was observed coughing during the match. Following the defeat, Osaka stated that she is experiencing health issues, which she attributes to a viral illness contracted from her daughter over the Christmas period. She described symptoms including a cough and a runny nose, expressing a desire for recovery prior to the Australian Open, which is scheduled to begin in just over two weeks.
Osaka indicated that her performance in the opening service game, which included three double faults and struggles with ball tosses, was primarily due to nervousness rather than her illness.
In the same tie, Stefanos Tsitsipas secured victory for Greece against Japan by defeating Shintaro Mochizuki 6-3, 6-4. This result finalized Greece's win over Japan.
In an earlier tie on Friday, Argentina achieved a 3-0 victory over Spain. This included singles wins by Sebastian Baez, who defeated Jaume Munar 6-4, 6-4, and Solana Sierra, who overcame Jéssica Bouzas Maneiro with scores of 6-4, 5-7, 6-0.