Naomi Osaka Withdraws from Australian Open Citing Abdominal Injury
Two-time Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka has withdrawn from the tournament just hours before her scheduled match against qualifier Maddison Inglis. The heartbreaking announcement came on a sweltering Saturday in Melbourne, where soaring temperatures had already prompted the implementation of heat protocols, including arena roof closures and suspensions of play on outdoor courts.
Osaka cited an abdominal injury, attributing it to the physical changes her body has undergone following her pregnancy. This isn’t the first time the 28-year-old has battled this issue, having previously retired during a third-round match at Melbourne Park last year against Belinda Bencic due to a similar problem.
A Difficult Decision
In a statement released to the press, Osaka explained her decision: “I thought I could push through it. I played my last match with some pain, and I thought maybe if I gave myself a break before my match today, I would be able to handle it, but I warmed up, and it got a lot worse.” She emphasized the need for further medical evaluation, stating, “I definitely have to do more tests and coming back from pregnancy, my body changed quite a lot. So this is something I have to be really cautious of.”
Osaka is one of three mothers currently ranked within the women’s top 20, highlighting the challenges athletes face returning to competition after pregnancy. She initially announced her withdrawal on Instagram, expressing her disappointment: “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.”
Impact on the Tournament & Inglis’s Opportunity
Osaka’s withdrawal unexpectedly propelled Maddison Inglis into the fourth round, where she will face a formidable opponent in second seed Iga Swiatek. Swiatek herself had a challenging match, overcoming Anna Kalinskaya 6-1, 1-6, 6-1 in a grueling 1 hour and 44 minutes. This victory continues to build momentum for Swiatek as she pursues her first career Grand Slam.
The timing of Osaka’s announcement caused a scramble to reschedule the evening session on Rod Laver Arena. The men’s doubles match featuring Australian pair Jason Kubler (Inglis’s fiancé) and Marc Polmans, along with Jakub Paul and Marcus Willis, was moved to fill the slot. Tickets for the originally scheduled match, featuring Novak Djokovic and Botic van de Zandschulp, were selling for over $339 (£172).
Looking Ahead
Despite the unfortunate setback, Osaka remains optimistic about her future. She expressed gratitude for the support she’s received and highlighted the positive aspects of her tournament experience. “It was nice that everyone enjoyed my outfit, but also, I enjoyed playing the tennis here. I played two three-set matches, and I felt really physically healthy… I’m just grateful to be otherwise very healthy, and I hope that I’m able to play some good tennis for the rest of the year.”
Elsewhere in the tournament, Elena Rybakina, the former Wimbledon champion, advanced to the fourth round with a dominant 6-2, 6-3 victory over Tereza Valentova, setting up a clash with 21st seed Elise Mertens.
You can find more information about the Australian Open at the official Australian Open website.
