Two-time Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka withdrew from the 1st Grand Slam of the year on Sunday just one week from its start, organizers announced. No reason for the Japanese star’s withdrawal was given.
“She will be missed at AO2023“, said on Twitter the tournament, for which it is another blow following the withdrawal of the world number 1 men, Carlos Alcaraz, on Friday, due to a right leg injury. The American Venus Williams will also not be in the game following suffering an injury last week in Auckland.
Champion in Melbourne in 2019 and 2021, Naomi Osaka has not played a competitive match since withdrawing from a tournament in Tokyo in September following abdominal pain. She tumbled to 42nd place in the world rankings.
The four-time Grand Slam winner had previously spoken regarding her mental health issues. She has spent all of 2022 outside the top 10, suffering 1st round defeats at Roland Garros and the US Open. She withdrew from Wimbledon due to an Achilles heel injury.
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