Two-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka has withdrawn from the 2021 Australian Open, tournament organizers announced on Sunday. The 25-year-old had been set to play in the first Grand Slam of the year, but did not elaborate on the reason for her withdrawal.
Osaka had taken some time away from competitive tennis and made several highly publicized disclosures about her struggles with mental health following an incident in August 2021, where she was visibly stressed and emotional while addressing the media during an obligatory news conference at Roland Garros.
The former world No. 1 was not listed to play in warm-up tournaments in Adelaide or Hobart, raising speculation about her participation in the first Grand Slam of the year. Osaka had previously pulled out of the French Open in September citing illness, and withdrew from Wimbledon in June due to an injury to her Achilles.
The Australian Open is set to begin on February 8th, and Osaka’s withdrawal leaves the tournament without one of its most high-profile players. Osaka has won two Grand Slam titles in her career, the 2018 US Open and the 2019 Australian Open.
The tennis world will be watching to see if Osaka returns to the court in the future. Until then, her fans will be hoping for her speedy recovery and a return to the game she loves.
Key takeaways:
- Two-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka has withdrawn from the 2021 Australian Open.
- Osaka had previously pulled out of the French Open in September citing illness, and withdrew from Wimbledon in June due to an injury to her Achilles.
- The Australian Open is set to begin on February 8th, and Osaka’s withdrawal leaves the tournament without one of its most high-profile players.
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