Naomi Osaka withdraws from Australian Open due to Injury
Naomi Osaka has withdrawn from the Australian Open, bringing her run in Melbourne to an early end.
Osaka confirmed the decision in a statement shared on her Instagram account, explaining that she needed to step away to address a physical issue following her most recent match.
“I’ve had to make the difficult decision to withdraw to address something my body needs attention for after my last match,” Osaka wrote. “I was so excited to keep going and this run meant the most to me, so having to stop here breaks my heart. But I can’t risk doing any further damage so I can get back on the court.”
The former world No. 1 also thanked those around her for their support during the tournament.
“Thanks for all the love and support. I’m so grateful everyone embraced me so much,” she said. “And thank you to my whole team for always having my back and the tournament organizers.”
Osaka’s withdrawal comes after what had been a positive stretch in Melbourne, making the ending particularly disappointing.
While the exact nature of the injury was not specified, her message made clear that the decision was made with her long-term health in mind.
The four-time Grand Slam champion has dealt with several interruptions to her schedule in recent seasons. For now, the focus is on rest and recovery, with hopes that Osaka will return to the court soon.
