The Australian Open
Osaka out as expected from AO
Naomi Osaka extended her exile from the stress of tennis by withdrawing from the Australian Open, officials confirmed on Sunday.
The Japanese two-time champion who all but fled the Tour in 2021 after failing to cope with emotional demands from post-match media conferences. won the event in 2019 and 2021.
She last completed a match at the US Open in September, losing in the first round; she then advanced later that month to the Tokyo second round, handing in a walkover.
“Naomi Osaka has withdrawn from the Australian Open. We will miss her at #AO2023,” Open officials tweeted.
The shy and fragile Osaka has been plagued for years with mental health doubts which apparently render her ill-equipped to deal with the pressure of international sport.
The former No. 1 now ranked 47th has earned only one match win since last May while playing a skeleton schedule.
She joins men’s No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz on the sidelines after the Spanish teenager withdrew with a leg injury suffered in recent days during training.