Two-time champion Naomi Osaka pulls out of the 2023 Australian Open
Four time Grand Slam title winner and two time Australian Open winner Naomi Osaka becomes the latest withdrawal from the 2023 Australian Open.
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Naomi Osaka
Naomi Osaka lands the 2023 Australian Open another big blow. Within the space of two days, she becomes the third Grand Slam title winner to pull out of the upcoming Australian Open. 2022 US Open winner Carlos Alcaraz announced his withdrawal early on 7th January due to an injury picked up in training.
Hours later, former World No. 1 and seven-time Grand Slam title winner Venus Williams also withdrew. Williams, ranked outside the Top 1000, was handed a wildcard but an injury during the 2023 ASB Classic in Auckland ruled her out. As the tennis world was sleeping on the news of Williams, they have now woken up to Osaka’s withdrawal.
Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam title winner, did not announce the news herself. Her withdrawal was however confirmed by the Grand Slam’s official Twitter handle. The reason for World No. 42’s withdrawal was not specified and it has opened up the scope for many possibilities on why the two-time Australian Open winner is not traveling Down Under this year.
Osaka’s last Tour appearance was at the 2022 Tokyo Open where she had to withdraw due to an abdominal injury. With her mental health battles continuing for years now, one can wonder what’s the real reason for her withdrawal. With the Tokyo Open held back in September, there’s hardly a chance that her injury hasn’t healed which again points her withdrawal to her mental health wellness.
Naomi Osaka’s record at the Australian Open
Naomi Osaka had always been a hardcourt specialist. Neither clay nor grass suited her game and she failed on the surface continuously. The Japanese superstar is yet to reach a final on any surface other than hardcourts. She however boasts of twin victories at the US Open (2018 and 2020) and the Australian Open (2019 and 2021).
Osaka made her Australian Open debut in 2016 reaching the third round. She suffered a second-round exit in 2017 before reaching the fourth round in 2018. Fresh from her maiden US Open title, she brought the heat in Melbourne Park as well defeating Petra Kvitova in the finals. Her title defense ended in the third round but she bounced back strong to clinch the title again in 2021.
With two titles in the past four editions, a fit Osaka would have been a big contender for the Major. However, it is unfortunate that she has to miss out on the first Major of the season.
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Sarthak Shitole
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