Naomi Osaka's remarkable Australian Open journey came to an abrupt end on Saturday when the two-time champion withdrew from her third-round match due to a left abdominal injury. Osaka was scheduled to face Australian qualifier Maddison Inglis on Rod Laver Arena but decided she couldn't risk further damage to her health.
Before her withdrawal, Osaka had become the talk of the tournament—not just for her tennis, but for her bold fashion statements. She made a grand entrance wearing a custom jellyfish-inspired outfit complete with a wide-brim hat, cascading veil, and parasol, a design inspired by a character from a book she reads to her daughter. Her on-court presence sparked plenty of conversation, and fans couldn't stop talking about the look on social media.
Osaka said the abdominal injury occurred during her second-round win over Sorana Cirstea and worsened during her warm-up on Saturday. The 28-year-old explained that this is a recurring issue she's dealt with before, and she felt caution was necessary. "I've had to make the difficult decision to withdraw to address something my body needs attention for after my last match," she posted to social media. "This run meant the most to me, so having to stop here breaks my heart but I can't risk doing any further damage."
Coming back from maternity leave has meant adjusting to physical changes, something Osaka acknowledged when discussing her recovery plans. Her focus now shifts to getting proper tests and treatment before the hard-court season continues. For now, Australian qualifier Maddison Inglis advances to the round of 16 via walkover, while tennis fans hope Osaka makes a full recovery soon.