8th January, 2023
Two-time Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka has pulled out of the opening Grand Slam of the year just over a week before it starts.
According to the organisers, Osaka did not give any reason for her withdrawal on Sunday.
A tweet from them read, “Naomi Osaka has withdrawn from the Australian Open. We will miss her at AO2023. No reason for the Japanese star’s withdrawal was given.
This comes after US Open champion and world number one Carlos Alcaraz also withdrew on Friday with a right leg problem.
Venus Williams will also be a no-show after picking up an injury at last week’s Auckland Classic.
Osaka has not played a competitive match since pulling out of a tournament in Tokyo in September with abdominal pain and has slumped to 42 in the world rankings.
She had previously talked about struggles with her mental health and spent all of 2022 outside the top 10, enduring first-round defeats at both the French and US Opens. She withdrew from Wimbledon with an Achilles injury.
Speaking at the Pan Pacific Open in September, she admitted she had gone through “more down than up” in 2022.
“This year has been not the best year for me but I’ve learned a lot about myself. Life is ups and downs, and this year was more down than up, but overall I’m pretty happy with where I am now.”
Reports in Australia last week said Tennis Australia had been unable to verify Osaka’s whereabouts.
Her social media accounts indicated that she had been travelling in Europe with her on-again-off-again boyfriend rapper Cordae.
AFP