Ahead of her third round clash against Australian qualifier Maddison Inglis, the four time Grand Slam winner, Naomi Osaka withdrew from the Australian Open, bringing an abrupt end to her campaign in Melbourne.
The two-time champion announced her decision on social media, saying she needed to step away to address an issue her body “needs attention for” following her previous match, adding that she did not want to risk further damage.
The withdrawal came just days after Osaka battled through a tense second-round encounter against Romania’s Sorana Cirstea. The former world No. 1 prevailed 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 at Margaret Court Arena in a match that was marked by visible frustration and emotional moments on court.
Osaka is a four-time Grand Slam champion, having won the Australian Open in 2019 and 2021, along with U.S. Open titles in 2018 and 2020. She entered this year’s tournament as the 16th seed and is currently ranked outside the top 10.
