Home
The organizers announced, one week before the beginning of the competition, the withdrawal of the Japanese player, double winner of the competition. But no reason was given.
A new blow for the Australian Open tennis tournament, which is due to start in just one week. After the withdrawal in the men’s draw of the world number 1, the Spaniard Carlos Alvaraz – injured leg -, the first major of the season loses the Japanese star Naomi Osaka.
“Naomi Osaka has withdrawn from the Australian Open. She will be missed at the AO2023,” the tournament posted on Twitter. No reason for the withdrawal of the former world number 1 was given.
The American Venus Williams, who was injured last week at the WTA tournament in Auckland, will also not be in the game.
The 2019 and 2021 Melbourne champion, Osaka has not played a competitive match since withdrawing from a tournament in Tokyo in September with abdominal pain and has plummeted to 42nd in the world rankings.
A very difficult 2022
The four-time Grand Slam winner has previously spoken about her mental health issues and spent the entire 2022 outside the top 10, suffering first round losses at the French Open and US Open. She withdrew from Wimbledon with an Achilles tendon injury.
Speaking at the Pan Pacific Open in September, the 25-year-old admitted that she has been through “more lows than highs” in 2022. “This year hasn’t been the best for me, but I’ve learned a lot about myself,” she said.
According to reports last week in Australia, Tennis Australia was unable to find out where she was. Her social media accounts indicated that she traveled to Europe with her boyfriend, American rapper Cordae.
