Naomi Osaka Withdraws from 2026 Australian Open Due to Injury

Melbourne: The Australian Open announced on Saturday, January 24, 2026, that Naomi Osaka had withdrawn from her upcoming third-round match against Maddison Inglis due to a left abdominal injury. According to Ghana Web, Osaka expressed her disappointment in a statement posted to her Instagram Stories, explaining her decision to prioritize her health after experiencing issues in her last match. "I've had to make the difficult decision to withdraw to address something my body needs attention for after my last match. I was so excited to keep going and this run meant the most to me, so having to stop here breaks my heart but I can't risk doing any further damage so I can get back on the court," she explained. Osaka also conveyed her gratitude towards her supporters and the tournament organizers for their kindness during this challenging time. The two-time champion and former world No. 1 had previously won her past two matches in three sets but required a medical timeout during her second-round victory over Sora na Cirstea. She hinted at a recurring injury during her post-match press conference, acknowledging her medical history and indicating that the decision to withdraw was a necessary precaution. Osaka has been a focal point of the tournament's first week, initially drawing attention with her entrance styled by designer Robert Wun. Her match against Cirstea also attracted headlines after a tense moment on the court led to a frosty handshake. Cirstea later accused Osaka of poor sportsmanship for her actions during the match, a claim Osaka addressed by stating that the umpire did not find her at fault and offering an apology for her comments towards Cirstea in her on-court interview. With Osaka's withdrawal, Inglis will advance to the fourth round of the Australian Open, where she will face either No. 2 seed Iga Swiatek or Anna Kalinskaya.