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Will the Australian Open 2023 take place without Naomi Osaka?
The Australian Open, the first Grand Slam tournament of the year, starts on January 16th. The tennis pros have already traveled down under. Only one player who is on the entry list has not landed in Australia so far: Naomi Osaka (25).
As the “Bild” reports, the organizers of the tournament are apparently trying in vain to contact the Japanese to get confirmation of their participation. They shouldn’t even know where Osaka is. Because she had not registered for either of the two preparatory tournaments.
Made rare on the tennis stage
The former world number 1 and four-time Grand Slam winner (the Australian and US Open twice each) had recently made herself rare on the tennis stage. In 2021, Osaka took a break after the French Open. As she later made public, depression and anxiety were the reason.
Last year she only played eleven tournaments. Their record: 15 wins and eleven defeats. Nevertheless, according to Forbes, Osaka earned $ 51.1 million more than any other athlete. The majority, however, with advertising contracts. Most recently, she took part in the tournament in Tokyo in September, where she did not play her second round game due to stomach pain. Osaka has slipped to 42nd place in the world rankings.
Australian Open without Venus Williams
Seven-time Grand Slam winner Venus Williams has canceled her participation in the Australian Open. This is due to an unspecified injury sustained at a tournament in Auckland this week. The 42-year-old received a wildcard for a 22nd participation in December. (SDA)
Seven-time Grand Slam winner Venus Williams has canceled her participation in the Australian Open. This is due to an unspecified injury sustained at a tournament in Auckland this week. The 42-year-old received a wildcard for a 22nd participation in December. (SDA)
Only: where is the tennis player at the moment? Her last post on social media dates back to late December. At that time she was traveling in Europe with her boyfriend, the American rapper Cordae. Among other things in Paris, where the two visited the Louvre. A few days ago, Osaka’s Instagram story featured a photo showing her in a Los Angeles Pilates studio.
Organizers no longer count on Osaka
Looks like she doesn’t want to compete in the Australian Open. Especially since she also separated from her coach Wim Fisette in 2022 and has not hired a new coach so far.
Whether and when Osaka will return to the WTA tour is open. According to a report by the “Australian Associated Press”, the organizers of the Grand Slam tournament are said to have already come to terms with the fact that their two-time winner will not serve in Melbourne. (bir)