Naomi Osaka has withdrawn from the Australian Open, forcing her out of a scheduled third-round match and sending Australian qualifier Maddison Inglis into the fourth round at Melbourne Park.
Osaka announced her decision just hours before the match was due to begin on Saturday night. The two-time Australian Open champion cited a physical issue that required immediate attention.
In an Instagram message, Osaka said she decided to protect her body after her previous match. She added that stopping now felt heartbreaking but necessary to avoid further injury and ensure a timely return to competition.
Osaka described the tournament run as especially meaningful and said she felt encouraged by her form before the setback. The withdrawal marks a rare moment in her career, as she has seldom exited a Grand Slam after progressing to this stage.
Two-time champion Naomi Osaka has withdrawn from the 2026 Australian Open due to injury ❌
Wishing you a speedy recovery, Naomi 🩵 pic.twitter.com/88NDDZNxyn
— TNT Sports (@tntsports) January 24, 2026The decision handed Inglis a walkover into the last 16. The West Australian has already endured a demanding path through the draw, spending more than 13 hours on court across 14 sets to reach the third round.
As one of only two qualifiers to advance this far, Inglis now benefits from additional recovery time ahead of her next match. She will face either world number two Iga Swiatek or 31st seed Anna Kalinskaya in the fourth round on Monday.
Osaka’s withdrawal represents a significant blow to the tournament, removing one of its biggest names from contention and reshaping the draw in the second week.
