By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, January 8, 2023
Naomi Osaka’s absence from the professional tour continues.
Two-time Australian Open champion Osaka formally withdrew from the 2023 Australian Open at this time. Osaka didn’t cite a selected cause for her withdrawal.
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Dayana Yastremska replaces Osaka within the Australian Open draw. Osaka joins considered one of her tennis heroes, 42-year-old Venus Williams, in pulling out of the Melbourne main.
The Australian Open begins on January sixteenth.
Naomi Osaka has withdrawn from the Australian Open. We will miss her at #AO2023 ????
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 8, 2023
Seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams pulled the plug after struggling an harm enjoying final week’s ASB Classic in Auckland.
Former world No. 1 Osaka has not performed a Tour-level match since Tokyo final September. Osaka’s final Grand Slam event win was a 6-0, 6-4 victory over Madison Brengle within the second spherical of the 2022 Australian Open final January. Osaka misplaced to Amanda Anisimova in her 2022 Roland Garros opener, didn’t play Wimbledon and fell to Australian Open finalist Danielle Collins the US Open first spherical.
Amanda Anisimova defeated defending-champion Osaka 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(5) within the Australian Open third spherical final January. Osaka performed with ardour in that match incomes two match factors earlier than bowing. The former world No. 1 gave the impression to be discovering her recreation and confidence along with her run to the Miami Open remaining final April. Since Miami, Osaka has posted simply three wins and failed to provide back-to-back victories.
8-0 in 2022 ????@AnisimovaAmanda fends off two match factors to knock off defending champion Naomi Osaka 4-6 6-3 7-6(10-5) and arrange a R16 conflict vs Ash Barty!
????: @AustralianOpen pic.twitter.com/rI1HX5o3Wc
— Billie Jean King Cup (@BJKCup) January 21, 2022
The query is can Osaka discover the enjoyment, ardour, consistency and confidence that’s lacking?
Photo credit score: Getty