Australian Open 2022: Naomi Osaka withdraws from Melbourne event – Defending Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka was forced to withdraw from Melbourne Summer Set 1, a warm-up event to the AO2022 with an abdominal injury. She was slated to play the semifinal against Veronika Kudermetova on Saturday but her fresh injury has raised doubts over her AO2022 participation. Follow Australian Open 2022 Live Updates on InsideSport.IN.
“Sad to withdraw due to injury from my match today, my body got a shock from playing back to back intense matches after the break I took. Thank you for all the love this past week. I’ll try to rest up and I’ll see you soon!”Naomi Osaka said in a tweet.
Australian Open 2022: Naomi Osaka withdraws from Melbourne warm-up event with abdominal injury
Sad to withdraw due to injury from my match today, my body got a shock from playing back to back intense matches after the break I took. Thank you for all the love this past week ❤️ I’ll try to rest up and I’ll see you soon!
— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) January 8, 2022
Australian Open 2022: Naomi Osaka withdraws from Melbourne warm-up event with abdominal injury
Interestingly, she withdrew from the Gippsland Trophy, an Australian Open 2021 warm-up event from the semifinal citing injury. However, Naomi Osaka went on to win the Australian Open. She had a troubled 2021 when she suffered from injuries and mental health issues, forcing her to withdraw from the French Open and the Wimbledon.
However, in 2022, she has shown glimpses of her old form. When Osaka opened the last quarterfinal clash against Andrea Petkovic with three consecutive aces, eventually winning the match 6-1, 7-5.
The Japanese World No.13 did not let up during a near-flawless first set in which she tallied eight aces and dominated with easy power from the ground. But having broken Petkovic at the start of the second set, Osaka’s supreme level dipped slightly, with her backhand going awry to hand the break back.
Australian Open 2022: Naomi Osaka withdraws from Melbourne warm-up event with abdominal injury