Tennis: Naomi Osaka withdraws from Australian Open

No Carlos Alcaraz, number 1 in the world for men, and therefore no Naomi Osaka for women. The Australian Open is losing a major new headliner this Sunday due to the announcement of the Japanese star’s package. “Naomi Osaka has withdrawn from the Australian Open. She will be missed,” the tournament’s official Twitter account says. Her place in the main draw is taken by the young Ukrainian Dayana Yastremska.

The reason for the removal of the two-time winner of the Australian Open (2019 and 2021) is not specified. This is not the only former world No. 1 to withdraw from the first Grand Slam of the year in recent hours. This Saturday, American Venus Williams also withdrew from the tournament. The aftermath of an injury received during the WTA tournament in Auckland last week. She got wild card which allowed him to directly enter the main draw of the Australian Open.

She dropped to number 42 in the world

For Naomi Osaka, this extends her off-field period. She has not played in a WTA match since October, when she withdrew from the Tokyo tournament due to stomach pains. It has since dropped to 42nd in the world.

Last year, Naomi Osaka lost in the third round of the Australian Open to Amanda Anisimova. The first Grand Slam loss in a more than difficult season for her, who spent all of 2022 outside the Top 10 and mentioned mental health issues. At Roland-Garros, as well as at the US Open, she lost in the first round, and did not participate in the last Wimbledon tournament due to an Achilles tendon injury. At the Pan Pacific Open in September, the 25-year-old athlete admitted that he survived “more down than up” in 2022.