Naomi Osaka withdrew from the Australian Open on Saturday before her scheduled third-round match against Australian qualifier Maddison Inglis, citing an injury that requires further medical attention.
The two-time Australian Open champion announced her decision on social media, saying she was forced to stop “to address something my body needs attention for after my last match.”
Tournament organizers later confirmed that Osaka is dealing with a left abdominal issue.
“I was so excited to keep going and this run meant the most to me, so having to stop here breaks my heart,” Osaka wrote on Instagram. “But I can’t risk doing any further damage so I can get back on the court.”
Osaka said the injury is one she has experienced before and that she attempted to play through the pain in her previous match.
However, she explained that the discomfort worsened during her warm-up ahead of Saturday’s contest, making withdrawal unavoidable.
The 28-year-old added that she will undergo further tests before deciding on a long-term treatment plan.
The four-time Grand Slam champion returned to full-time competition in 2024 after a 15-month break during which she gave birth to her daughter, Shai, in July 2023.
She reached the US Open semifinals last year, marking her deepest run at a major since becoming a mother.
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