Storytimes Newspapers

 Naomi Osaka has withdrawn from the 2026 Australian Open due to a left abdominal injury, just hours before her scheduled third-round match against Australian qualifier Maddison Inglis. The two-time Australian Open champion (2019 and 2021) announced the withdrawal on Saturday, January 24, 2026, citing the need to prioritize her body's recovery. Osaka, who turns 28 this year, has a history of abdominal issues and noted that her body "has changed," making it difficult to continue competing at the high level required in the tournament. The former world No. 1 had advanced to the third round after hard-fought victories: a three-set win over Antonia Ruzic in the first round and another gritty three-setter against Maria Sakkari in the second, where she battled visible discomfort and illness during the match. Her exit hands Inglis a walkover into the Round of 16 (and effectively the fourth round in some reporting contexts due to the draw progression), guaranteeing the Australian a...