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Naomi Osaka withdrew from the Australian Open just hours before she was due to take the court against the qualifier Maddison Inglis, citing an abdominal injury linked to body changes from her pregnancy.
The news landed late on a Saturday in Melbourne that had been heavily affected by soaring temperatures that triggered the tournament’s heat protocols, forcing arena roofs closed and suspending play on outside courts.
The withdrawal propelled the Australian Inglis into an unlikely fourth-round clash with the second seed Iga Swiatek. The world No 2 was given an almighty scare by the Russian Anna Kalinskaya before earning a 6-1, 1-6, 6-1 victory in 1hr 44min, as she continued to build momentum in her hunt for a career Grand Slam.
The two-time Australian Open champion said in written comments shared with press that it was an injury she had experienced “a couple of times” previously. “I thought I could push through it. 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,” he said, adding she still needed to see doctors.
“I definitely have to do more tests and coming back from pregnancy, my body changed quite a lot. So this is something I have to be really cautious of.”
Osaka has a history of abdominal problems and retired during her third-round match at Melbourne Park last year against Belinda Bencic after a set. The 28-year-old is one of three mothers ranked in the women’s top 20. She initially announced her withdrawal on Instagram at 8pm local time, by which time the preceding match was already taking place on centre court.
“I was so excited to keep going and this run meant the most to me, so having to stop here breaks my heart but I can’t risk doing any further damage so I can get back on the court,” she said. “And thank you to my whole team for always having my back and the tournament organisers for being so kind.”
Osaka was due to play Inglis on Rod Laver Arena following the match between Novak Djokovic and Botic van de Zandschulp in a marquee Saturday evening slot for which tickets were selling for in excess of $339 (£172).
Japan’s No 16 seed has been in the spotlight during the tournament. She made headlines with her jellyfish-inspired outfit in round one, and in her last match was embroiled in a row over fair play with Sorana Cirstea.
Osaka said it had still been a positive tournament. “It was nice that everyone enjoyed my outfit, but also, I enjoyed playing the tennis here. 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,” Osaka said. “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.”
Officials scrambled to fill the evening slot on Rod Laver Arena, and rescheduled the men’s doubles match featuring Australian pair Jason Kubler – Inglis’s fiance – and Marc Polmans, and Jakub Paul and Marcus Willis, to give ticketholders more tennis. Inglis was booked to be interviewed on Australian broadcaster Channel Nine.
