Photo credit: Australian Open Facebook
Naomi Osaka made a striking entrance before her Australian Open opener.
The four-time Grand Slam champion made a disappointing Melbourne exit tonight.
Former world No. 1 Osaka was forced to withdraw from the Australian Open due to an abdominal injury.
“It’s an injury I’ve had a couple of times before, and I thought I could push through it,” Osaka said in a press conference after the news broke. “I played my last match with some pain, and I thought maybe if I gave myself a break before my match today, I would be able to handle it, but I warmed up, and it got a lot worse, so yeah.
“I definitely have to do more tests, and obviously I think coming back from pregnancy, my body changed quite a lot. So this is something I have to be really cautious of.”
It’s a painful end to what was a promising Melbourne Park start for Osaka.
“I mean, I think for me obviously it was nice that everyone enjoyed my outfit, but also, I enjoyed playing the tennis here,” Osaka said. “I played two three-set matches, and I felt really physically healthy. Well, I guess, not my ab, but just fitness-wise it felt really good.
“Yeah, I’m just grateful to be otherwise very healthy, and I hope that I’m able to play some good tennis for the rest of the year.”
Osaka’s withdrawal sends Aussie Madison Inglis moves into the round of 16.
Inglis will face No. 2 Iga Swiatek for a quarterfinal spot.
Continuing her quest for the career Grand Slam, Swiatek stopped Anna Kalinskaya 6-1, 1-6, 6-1.