Tennis: Naomi Osaka Withdraws From Australian Open
Two-time champion Naomi Osaka has pulled out of the Australian Open, organisers of the year’s first Grand Slam said on Sunday, without elaborating on the reason for the withdrawal as the tournament is scheduled to kick off on January 16th.
The Japanese former world number one’s name was on the entry list for the Australian Open, but Osaka was not scheduled to play in warm-up tournaments in Adelaide and Hobart, raising doubts about her participation in the hardcourt major.
“Naomi Osaka has withdrawn from the Australian Open. We will miss her at #AO2023,” the Australian Open said on Twitter. “Dayana Yastremska moves into the main draw.”
Naomi Osaka has withdrawn from the Australian Open. We will miss her at #AO2023 💙
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 8, 2023
Osaka, the 2019 and 2021 Melbourne Park champion, has not played on the WTA Tour since the Pan Pacific Open in September, where she pulled out of her second-round match against Beatriz Haddad Maia in Tokyo due to illness. She had crashed out in the first round of three tournaments before that event, including the U.S. Open.
Her withdrawal marks a double blow for Australian Open organisers a day after American seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams was ruled out due to injury.
The Australian Open was already short of some of its star players following the retirements of Serena Williams and Roger Federer last year and the withdrawal of men’s world number one Carlos Alcaraz due to injury.
Simona Halep, the 2018 runner-up, is also absent after being provisionally suspended in October for failing a drug test.
Reuters/Chidi Nwoke.
