Osaka Pulls out of Third-Round Match with Ab Injury, Sending Qualifier Inglis to Round of 16

Two-time AO champion Naomi Osaka has pulled out of the Australian Open draw, citing an ab injury.

The four-time major champion was out on the practice courts a few hours before the night session, but elected to pull the plug afterwards.

Aussie Madison Inglis moves into the round of 16 and will face No. 2 Iga Swiatek.

Continuing her quest to complete the career Grand Slam, Wimbledon winner Swiatek stopped Anna Kalinskaya 6-1, 1-6, 6-1.

Osaka hinted that she may be sufferring from the recurring injury after her second-round match. After practicing she new her worst fears would be realized.

“It’s an injury I’ve had a couple of times before, and I thought I could push through it,” she 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.”