Naomi Osaka was slated to take part in a charity match before kickstarting her 2024 Australian Open campaign. However, Osaka has decided to withdraw from the match as a precautionary measure to ensure that she is fully ready for her first Grand Slam appearance in over a year.

Osaka was pitted against Briton Emma Raducanu in the charity match. But now that she has withdrawn, she will be replaced by Croatian Donna Vekic. While fans who will be attending the match are set to miss out on Osaka’s aggressive brand of tennis, they will still be able to catch a glimpse of her as she will make a special appearance for the fans before Raducanu takes on Vekic.

Australian Open priorities play a part in Naomi Osaka’s sudden decision

There has been a lot of hype surrounding Naomi Osaka’s comeback to the WTA Tour and it’s not surprising. Osaka is one of tennis’ most marketable names and also achieved a lot of success before she was compelled to take a break from the sport owing to her pregnancy. The Brisbane International marked Osaka’s return to tennis, but unfortunately, she couldn’t go beyond the round of 32 as Karolina Pliskova defeated her.

Now, Osaka’s ambition is quite clear – to go as deep as possible at the Australian Open, a Grand Slam she has already won twice in the past. It’s understandable that Osaka doesn’t want to put any unnecessary strain on her body with the Australian Open set to start in a matter of days.

Raducanu has also been among the most talked-about names in women’s tennis recently. The Briton endured a injury-ravaged 2023 as she had to undergo multiple surgeries along with the subsequent rehabilitation. She too would be keen on making an impression at the Australian Open after bursting on to the scene in 2021 with her shock triumph at the US Open.

Read More: Can Naomi Osaka Pull Off ‘Tennis Mom’ Feat that Even Serena Williams Couldn’t? American Journalist Comes Up with an Intriguing Take (EXCLUSIVE)