Naomi Osaka announced her withdrawal from the Australian Open just hours before her scheduled match against Maddison Inglis, attributing her decision to an abdominal injury exacerbated by physical changes from her recent pregnancy. The two-time Australian Open champion expressed disappointment, emphasizing the emotional toll of having to step back from a tournament she was excited to compete in.
In her absence, Inglis advanced to the fourth round where she faced world No. 2, Iga Swiatek. Swiatek experienced a challenging encounter against Anna Kalinskaya but ultimately triumphed with a score of 6-1, 1-6, 6-1 in a match lasting 1 hour and 44 minutes.
Osaka, 28, shared in an Instagram post that the injury was not new to her. “I thought I could push through it,” she explained, detailing how previous experiences had led her to believe that resting prior to the match could allow her to compete. However, after warming up, the pain intensified and she realized she would need to seek medical attention. She stressed the importance of taking care of her health, particularly after the significant changes her body has undergone post-pregnancy.
Having suffered from abdominal issues in the past, Osaka’s withdrawal echoes her earlier retirement during last year’s tournament against Belinda Bencic. She is among several mothers currently ranked in the women’s top 20. Her preliminary announcement came at 8 PM local time, coinciding with the ongoing match on center court. “This run meant the most to me, so having to stop here breaks my heart,” she said, acknowledging the support of her team and the tournament organizers.
Due to Osaka’s withdrawal, officials acted swiftly to rearrange the evening programming, rescheduling a men’s doubles match featuring Australian players Jason Kubler and Marc Polmans to offer fans alternative entertainment. Elena Rybakina, the former Wimbledon champion, continued her strong performance by defeating Tereza Valentova 6-2, 6-3, setting her sights on a fourth-round matchup with 21st seed Elise Mertens.
Despite the setback from her injury, Osaka maintains a hopeful attitude, reflecting on her positive experience in the tournament thus far, including engaging performances in her earlier matches and receiving compliments for her distinctive jellyfish-inspired outfit. She expressed gratitude for her overall health and is optimistic about returning to the court later this year.