Naomi Osaka has commanded attention throughout her Australian Open run, though not solely for her tennis. Her bold on-court style could have drawn focus again ahead of the third-round clash with Madison Inglis. Yet the narrative shifted abruptly as the two-time champion withdrew from the draw, leaving fans at Melbourne Park stunned and searching for answers.

Naomi Osaka explained her Australian Open withdrawal in a recent Instagram story. She revealed the decision came after listening to her body following her last match. “I’ve had to make the difficult decision to withdraw to address something my body needs attention for after my last match.”

She expressed deep disappointment about ending her run early. “I was so excited to keep going and this run meant the most to me, so having to stop here breaks my heart but I can’t risk doing any further damage so I can get back on the court.” Her words reflected both frustration and long-term focus.

Osaka also shared gratitude with fans and those around her. “Thanks for all the love and support…I’m so grateful everyone embraced me so much. And thank you to my whole team for always having my back and the tournament organizers for being so kind.”

Naomi Osaka was scheduled to face Inglis on Rod Laver Arena in a prime Saturday evening slot. The match was set to follow Novak Djokovic against Botic van de Zandschulp. Tickets for the session were selling for more than $339.

However, the plan changed suddenly. Japan’s No. 16 seed withdrew from the tournament due to a left abdominal injury. Her exit left a major gap in the night session schedule.

Osaka had been a major talking point throughout the tournament. She drew attention with her jellyfish-inspired outfit in the first round. In her previous match, she was also involved in a fair-play dispute with Sorana Cirstea.

With Osaka out, officials moved quickly to adjust the schedule. A men’s doubles match was brought forward to fill the Rod Laver Arena slot. The match featured Australian pair Jason Kubler, Inglis’s fiancé, and Marc Polmans, against Jakub Paul and Marcus Willis.

Osaka’s withdrawal marked another setback at Melbourne Park. Once again, her comeback in ruthless tennis was interrupted as she stepped away to focus on recovery.

Naomi Osaka forced to retire injured in Australian Open third round

Even last year, Naomi Osaka returned to the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time since her maternity comeback in 2024. Her run at the Australian Open ended abruptly. She was forced to retire injured during her third-round match against Belinda Bencic.

Osaka started that match strongly. The four-time Grand Slam champion raced to a 4–1 lead in the opening set. Soon after, she began to struggle with an abdominal issue that limited her movement.

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At 6–5 in the first set, Osaka called for the physio. Despite receiving treatment, she continued to show signs of discomfort. Bencic took control and dominated the tie-break.

Before the second set could begin, Osaka made the difficult decision to retire. The match ended without the conclusion either player wanted. Bencic later shared her sympathy.

“I really feel for Naomi. I saw her struggling a bit in the end of the set. It’s not the way you want the match to end,” Bencic said. Her comments reflected the mood on court.

Earlier in that tournament, Osaka had looked sharp and confident. She defeated France’s Caroline Garcia in three sets in the opening round. She then beat 20th seed Karolina Muchova in just under two hours.

The injury concerns were not new. Before arriving in Melbourne last year, Osaka had retired from the Auckland Classic final. It was her first WTA final in three years. 

Once again sidelined, her comeback paused, with hopes now set on returning during the North American hard-court swing next month.