Naomi Osaka has withdrawn from the charity match against Emma Raducanu scheduled for the Australian Open 2024 as a precautionary measure ahead of her participation in the main draw at the Rod Laver Arena.
The 26-year-old’s place will be taken by World No.25 Donna Vekic, who will face Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, in the charity event. Vekic, aged 27, recently represented Croatia in the United Cup, securing victories against Arantxa Rus of the Netherlands and Malene Helge of Norway.
Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam singles champion, recently made her comeback to competitive tennis after a 15-month hiatus. She participated in the Brisbane International, where she defeated Tamara Korpatsch of Germany but faced a tough battle against Karolina Pliskova, ultimately losing in a thrilling 3-setter.
Last year in January, Osaka announced her impending motherhood, and in July, she welcomed her daughter, Shai. Before the Brisbane International, Osaka expressed her comeback as an inspiration for her daughter. Having entered the Australian Open main draw with a special ranking, Osaka, a former World No.1, is currently ranked No.833 in the world.
