Two-times champion Naomi Osaka has pulled out of the Australian Open, organisers of the season’s first Grand Slam which begins on Jan. 16 introduced on Sunday with out elaborating on the rationale.
The Japanese former world primary’s title was on the entry record for the Australian Open however Osaka was not scheduled to play in warm-up tournaments in Adelaide and Hobart, elevating doubts about her participation within the hardcourt main.
“Naomi Osaka has withdrawn from the Australian Open. We will miss her at #AO2023,” the Australian Open tweeted. “Dayana Yastremska moves into the main draw.”
Osaka, the 2019 and 2021 Melbourne Park champion, has not performed on the WTA Tour since pulling out of her match towards Beatriz Haddad Maia within the Pan Pacific Open second spherical in Tokyo in September as a consequence of sickness.
Her withdrawal comes a day after American seven-times Grand Slam champion Venus Williams was dominated out of the Australian Open as a consequence of damage in a double blow to the organisers.
Osaka, who has slipped to 42 on the earth rankings, had taken a break to prioritise her psychological well being after skipping the 2021 French Open and later stated that she was battling despair.
