Two-time champion Naomi Osaka has withdrawn from her Australian Open third-round match shortly before taking the court.
The Japanese star was due to face home qualifier Maddison Inglis in Saturday’s night session.
Japan’s Osaka, 28, cited a left abdominal injury for pulling out, an issue she has struggled with before. The announcement came around two hours before both players were expected on Rod Laver Arena.
Osaka, seeded 16th, made the call after warming up at Melbourne Park earlier.”I thought I could push through it,” said Osaka, who won the Melbourne title in 2019 and 2021. “I played my last match with some pain and thought maybe if I gave myself a break before my match, I would be able to handle it.”
Four-time major champion Osaka also claimed US Open titles in 2018 and 2020. She needed a medical timeout during Thursday’s win over Sorana Cirstea.Afterwards, she admitted it was a “reoccurring thing”. She also suggested her injury history would allow reporters to guess the problem.
Osaka retired injured during last year’s Australian Open with the same issue. Now, once again, Melbourne has delivered frustration instead of momentum.
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The mother-of-one returned to the sport in 2024 after giving birth. She confirmed plans to consult doctors about the persistent concern.
“I definitely have to do more tests. Coming back from pregnancy, my body changed quite a lot. This is something I have to be really cautious of,” Osaka added.
Losing a player of Osaka’s quality and star power is always a blow to the draw. Beyond results, she remains a magnetic presence at Melbourne Park.
She drew attention for wearing a jellyfish-inspired outfit for her opening-round win. There was also debate after she apologised for disrespecting Cirstea.
“I was so excited to keep going and this run meant the most to me,” she said. “Having to stop here breaks my heart but I can’t risk doing any further damage.”
Inglis, 28, ranked 168th, advances to the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time. Previously overlooked for a wildcard, she battled through three qualifying rounds.Next, she faces Polish second seed Iga Swiatek for a quarter-final place.
Tags: Naomi Osaka, Australian Open, #AusOpen, #AussieOpen, #AustralianOpen, Maddison Inglis, Iga Swiatek.
