Australia: The Japanese tennis player Naomi Osaka has confirmed that she will not play at the Australian Open, adding her name to a growing list of notable withdrawals.

The organisers of the tournament tweeted that the Open champion in 2019 and 2021 will not be playing in Melbourne.

“Naomi Osaka has withdrawn from the Australian Open. We will miss her at #AO2023,” the tweet stated.

In 2022, the former No.1 advanced to the third round in the championship, where she bowed out to Amanda Anisimova 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(5). The Japanese player was knocked out of the US Open last year in the first round and last played in the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo in September 2022. Osaka reached the second round of that tournament before withdrawing due to illness.

Earlier, Osaka took a mental health break after missing the 2021 French Open and later stated that she had been struggling with depression and anxiety for several years. The former champion’s absence from Melbourne adds to the uncertainty over when or if she will resume her career.

The Australian Open, which starts on January 16, is going to miss several leading players, including men’s world number one Carlos Alcaraz, who pulled out recently with an ankle injury.

In addition, former finalist Simona Halep is not playing this championship, and Venus Williams has handed back a wildcard entry after suffering an injury while practising in Auckland.

Open organisers were already reeling from the retirements of reigning women’s champion Ashleigh Barty and legends including Serena Williams as well as Roger Federer in 2022.

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