Naomi Osaka has confirmed fears she may miss the Australian Open after her withdrawal was officially announced.
The Japanese star has not played since September in the Toray Pan Pacific Open, where she played just five minutes of her first-round match before her opponent retired, and then pulled out before her next match. Before the qualifying event for the first grand slam commenced today, the tournament announced the news with a tweet but did not disclose the reason for the 25-year-old's withdrawal.
"Naomi Osaka has withdrawn from the Australian Open. We will miss her at #AO2023,” they wrote. The news comes just days after tournament organisers claimed they did not know the whereabouts of their former champion, although her name was on the entry list.
The Australian Associated Press believed officials appeared 'quietly resigned' to the fact that the two-time champion will not appear in Melbourne for the tournament and their prediction has since come true. Osaka returned to the US following a trip around Europe with boyfriend and rapper Cordae over the festive period. The tennis star had also been promoting her new book 'The Way Champs Play'. In it she shares the key steps to becoming a true champion, including being kind, working as a team, doing your best, and most importantly, having fun.
She uploaded a photo album to Instagram with a series of shots from some time spent in Paris. The last we heard from the former world number one regarding tennis was this past Thursday to welcome world No.2 Ons Jabeur to her sports management agency, Evolve.
Recalling a story when the pair first met at the WTA Finals in 2015, Osaka added: "Over the years, watching her rise through the tour and become the star that she is has been incredibly joyful to watch and I can't wait to see her create more history and ascend even higher." Another star player who will be absent at the first major of the year is men’s world number one Carlos Alcaraz. The US Open champion suffered a leg injury which will force him to miss a chance to clinch his second grand slam title.
The Spaniard was one of the favourites to prevail at Melbourne Park, having won his maiden Grand Slam title at Flushing Meadows in September. “When I was at my best in pre-season, I picked up an injury through a chance, unnatural movement in training," he tweeted. "This time it's the semimembranosus muscle in my right leg.
"I'd worked so hard to get to my best level for Australia but unfortunately I won't be able to play the Care A2+ Kooyong or the Australian Open. It's tough, but I have to be optimistic, recover and look forward. See you in 2024 @AustralianOpen."
Event organisers responded to the star, tweeting back: "We’re sorry we won’t be seeing you this year @carlosalcaraz. Wishing you a swift recovery. See you back on court soon."
This is the second injury the teen has suffered in recent months. The end of his 2022 season was plagued by a torn abdominal muscle, which forced him to miss the ATP Finals in Turin. The Spaniard was also unable to represent his country in the Davis Cup Finals, eventually won by Canada.
