Naomi Osaka's Australian Open Drought Ends Prematurely as She Withdrew from Tournament
In a surprise move, four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka announced her withdrawal from this year's Australian Open, cutting short her bid for a fifth singles title. Her decision came after suffering an injury that requires medical attention.
Osaka was set to face Australia's rising star Maddison Inglis in the third round, but Inglis will now advance to meet world No. 2 Iga Swiatek in the fourth round on Sunday. The news sent shockwaves through the tennis community, with fans and observers alike expressing their disappointment at Osaka's premature exit.
According to a statement released by Osaka, she made the difficult decision to withdraw after her last match due to the need for medical attention. Despite being on a hot streak, having just secured a second-round victory over Sorana Cirstea, Osaka deemed it essential to prioritize her health over competing in the tournament.
Osaka's withdrawal was not without controversy, however. During her previous match against Cirstea, she faced criticism for shouting "C'mon" between serves, an act considered a hindrance in tennis. In a post-match apology, Osaka acknowledged that her emotions had gotten the better of her and expressed regret for any disrespect caused.
The decision to withdraw from the Australian Open marks another setback for one of the world's highest-paid female athletes. According to Forbes, Osaka was tied for eighth-highest among female athletes globally in 2025 with a reported $12.5 million earnings.
With this latest withdrawal, Osaka has now missed an opportunity to further cement her status as one of tennis' top players. Fans and observers will be eagerly awaiting her return to the court, hoping that she can regain her form and make a successful comeback.
In a surprise move, four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka announced her withdrawal from this year's Australian Open, cutting short her bid for a fifth singles title. Her decision came after suffering an injury that requires medical attention.
Osaka was set to face Australia's rising star Maddison Inglis in the third round, but Inglis will now advance to meet world No. 2 Iga Swiatek in the fourth round on Sunday. The news sent shockwaves through the tennis community, with fans and observers alike expressing their disappointment at Osaka's premature exit.
According to a statement released by Osaka, she made the difficult decision to withdraw after her last match due to the need for medical attention. Despite being on a hot streak, having just secured a second-round victory over Sorana Cirstea, Osaka deemed it essential to prioritize her health over competing in the tournament.
Osaka's withdrawal was not without controversy, however. During her previous match against Cirstea, she faced criticism for shouting "C'mon" between serves, an act considered a hindrance in tennis. In a post-match apology, Osaka acknowledged that her emotions had gotten the better of her and expressed regret for any disrespect caused.
The decision to withdraw from the Australian Open marks another setback for one of the world's highest-paid female athletes. According to Forbes, Osaka was tied for eighth-highest among female athletes globally in 2025 with a reported $12.5 million earnings.
With this latest withdrawal, Osaka has now missed an opportunity to further cement her status as one of tennis' top players. Fans and observers will be eagerly awaiting her return to the court, hoping that she can regain her form and make a successful comeback.
... feel bad for Naomi, been rooting for her since Wimbledon 2022 
... so close too, only to get cut short by injury 
... gotta respect her decision tho, health first, that's what matters 
... hope she takes some time off and comes back stronger 
... Maddison Inglis will definitely be one to watch out for now 
... can't help but wonder what could've been for Osaka 
. I mean, we all need to prioritize our health but it feels like just as she was getting into the zone 
, this happens. And yeah, that incident with "C'mon" during her last match did get some attention... it's not ideal but at least she owned up to it and apologized 
. I've got my fingers crossed for her comeback, hoping she can bounce back from this and be back on the court soon 
. Can't wait to see what's next for her! 
. Her injury might be more serious than we thought, hoping for a speedy recovery so she can get back to her winning ways 
! The controversy surrounding that "C'mon" outburst was a bit of a distraction, but it's all water under the bridge now 
. It's sad to see her miss an opportunity like this, especially with her earning potential being what it is 
. Let's hope she can bounce back stronger than ever and show us what she's truly capable of 
.
now, we just wanna see her come back strong 
and maybe get that fifth singles title 
. Her injury is no joke – hope she heals ASAP 
! 
Maybe next time she can channel her emotions in a more positive way. Anyway, it's not all doom and gloom for Naomi - she'll just have to bounce back stronger than ever! 
. On the other hand, I get why she didn't want to risk exacerbating the injury, we've seen enough of those injuries ruining careers 
. And honestly, who can blame her for getting emotional on the court after beating Sorana Cirstea? That was a huge win and I would've lost my cool too 
.
And now, this injury thing just happens? 
It's always sad to see these incredible athletes have to take a step back due to health concerns. I mean, I get it, prioritizing your well-being is super important, but still... 
I mean, Osaka apologized and all, but sometimes you just gotta let go of that extra emotion, you know? 
Anywayz, it sucks she missed out on this one. Hopefully, she comes back stronger than ever! 
oh man, I'm so bummed for Naomi Osaka... she was on fire this tournament and now it's all over before it even started 
. Anyway, fingers crossed Naomi gets back to full strength soon and crushes her comeback 
!
... hoping for a speedy return to the court and more Grand Slam wins! 
. It's like the tennis world expects athletes to be superheroes 
. We need to start prioritizing their well-being over winning at all costs 
.
Was it really necessary for her to apologize? It just goes to show how much she's being scrutinized under a microscope 
. As athletes, they're already under enough stress without feeling like they need to control every single one of their emotions 
. Let's focus on their recovery and well-being instead of just their on-court performance 
. After all, a healthy mind is key to success in any field 
!
her form has been so solid lately, would've loved to see her go for the win 
. She was on fire 
. Not the best timing for her fans 
just getting back from that tough match against Cirstea, but her body just couldn't take it anymore 
. And yeah, the "C'mon" incident still had some people shook 
, but I think she handled it pretty well considering... Apologize and move on, you know? 
! She'll bounce back from this and come stronger than ever 
. And don't even get me started on the pressure to perform – it's no wonder she was feeling emotional between serves 
. At least she's being responsible about it 
I mean, I get it, health first and all that jazz... but a little bit of drama never hurts, right? I'm talking about that whole "C'mon" thing between serves 