Two-time Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka withdrew from participation in the tournament a week before the start of the competition, the organization announced today.
“Naomi Osaka has withdrawn from the Australian Open. We will miss her at AO2023,” the organization said on Twitter.
Naomi Osaka has withdrawn from the Australian Open. We’ll miss her #AO2023
– #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 8, 2023
No reason was given for the Japanese tennis player’s departure, as the withdrawal represented another blow to the Australian Open after world number one Carlos Alcaraz missed the event with an injury to his right leg.
The American Venus Williams will also be out of the tournament after an injury last week at the WTA tournament in Auckland.
2019 and 2021 Melbourne champion Osaka has not played a competitive game since pulling out of a tournament in Tokyo in September with stomach pains, dropping to 42nd in the women’s tennis world rankings.
Source: DN
