The Japanese tennis player and two-time champion of the Open the Australia, Naomi Osakawill not participate in the next edition of the tournamentthe organizers announced this Sunday on their social networks without specifying the reason.
“Naomi Osaka has withdrawn from the Australian Open. We will miss her”, pointed out the organizers of the competition that will begin on January 16 in Melbourne (southeast Australia). Ukrainian Dayana Yastremska takes her place in the draw.
The former number one in the world, 25 years old, last played last September at the Tokyo Premierwhere she withdrew before her second round match, complaining of abdominal pain and is now ranked 42nd in the world.
In last year’s Grand Slam events, Osaka lost in the third round in Melbourne, in the first round at Roland Garros and the US Open. and also did not play Wimbledon due to an Achilles tendon injury.
Naomi Osaka, the daughter of a Haitian-American father and a Japanese mother, plays in international competitions on behalf of Japan.
Venus Williams, also down
Venus Williams, who had received an invitation from the organization to play the Australian Open at the age of 42, withdrew due to injury after losing this week in the second round of the Auckland tournament. The Spanish Sara Sorribes, who is recovering from injury, and the Chinese Qiang Wang are the other confirmed casualties for the first Grand Slam of the season. Australian Kin Birrel takes Williams’ wild card.
