Two-time champion Naomi Osaka has formally withdrawn from the Australian Open after sparking hypothesis with a mysterious European sojourn final week.
The 25-year-old former world No.1 has not performed a match in 4 months and her profession has been below a cloud because of harm.
She appeared all however sure to overlook this 12 months’s first grand slam when she was pictured in Europe together with her American rapper boyfriend Cordae final week.
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They posted a photograph sitting collectively in entrance of the Mona Lisa and one other from a live performance.
Osaka apparently returned to Los Angeles in latest days after sharing a picture from a pilates studio.
Australian Open officers have been left scrambling to find out her actual whereabouts and the enjoying standing of one of many sport’s main stars.
Disgruntled followers took to social media to specific their dismay, a quantity replying to the put up and seemingly blaming Osaka’s boyfriend for her not enjoying tennis.
Osaka was by no means on the entry lists to play in Adelaide or Hobart this coming week however remained within the Australian Open discipline till Sunday.
“We’ll miss her,” the match wrote on social media.
Osaka’s withdrawal shortly earlier than the qualifying draw promoted Dayana Yastremska into the principle draw.
Unseeded and all the way down to 42nd on the earth rankings, it was troublesome to think about Osaka critically difficult for a 3rd title in Melbourne and fifth general.
The Japanese celebrity has not performed since withdrawing from the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo final September with belly pains, and has received just one accomplished match since final Might.
The previous world No.1 crashed out within the first spherical of her earlier three occasions, together with the US Open.
Osaka’s final victory was an abbreviated one to say the least after Australian opponent Daria Saville suffered a torn ACL only one sport into their first-round conflict in Tokyo.
Osaka took a psychological well being break after sitting out the 2021 French Open and later revealed she had been scuffling with despair and anxiousness since her 2018 US Open victory.
The Australian Open is now with out a number of former champions for 2023.
Ash Barty is not going to defend her crown following her shock retirement in March, which has now been adopted by a being pregnant announcement.
Serena Williams has additionally hung up her racquet whereas her sister Venus withdrew from the match hours earlier than Osaka on Sunday.
– with AAP
