© AFP
Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka (WTA 42) will not participate in the Australian Open. This was announced by the organizers on Sunday. Rumors have been circulating in recent days that the Japanese would not participate as she was still not in Australia, and that has now been confirmed.
Jeroen DePauw
Two-time ex-winner Naomi Osaka will not add a third Australian Open title to her palmares this year. “Naomi Osaka has withdrawn from the Australian Open. She will be missed,” said the organizers of the first grand slam tournament of the year on Twitter. No reason is given for the forfeit.
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Osaka seems to have had enough of tennis more and more. The question is whether she will be back on the tennis court, and if so when. The Japanese is struggling with mental problems. At the end of September last year, she forfeited her last match in her own country at the Tokyo Open. With a lot of injuries, the former number 1 in the world has now dropped to 42nd place in the world ranking. Striking: Despite her regular absence from the track, Osaka was still the highest paid female athlete of the year in 2022.
Last year she reached the third round Down Under. Then she lost to Amanda Anisimova in three sets. This year, the Australian Open will start on January 16, but without the Japanese ex-champion.