After making an iconic first-round entrance at the Australian Open and trending on social media for her striking outfit, Naomi Osaka has given fans another major talking point, but this time for unfortunate reasons.
The Japanese star has withdrawn from the Australian Open 2026 due to injury, pulling out just hours before her scheduled third-round clash.
Osaka announced the decision via an Instagram story, explaining that she could not risk further damage after feeling discomfort following her previous match.
“I’ve had to make the difficult decision to withdraw to address something my body needs attention for after my last match. 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,” Osaka wrote. “Thanks for all the love and support…I’m so grateful everyone embraced me so much.”
Why did Naomi Osaka withdraw from the Australian Open?
Naomi Osaka withdrew from the tournament due to an abdominal injury, which is understood to be linked to post-pregnancy physical changes. The decision was taken as a precaution to avoid aggravating the issue and to ensure a safe return to competitive tennis.
Her withdrawal handed Australian qualifier Maddison Inglis a walkover into the Round of 16. Inglis, playing her first Grand Slam main draw in four years, reached the last-16 stage for the first time in her career. She now joins Alex de Minaur as the only Australian left in the tournament and will face world No. 2 Iga Swiatek in the fourth round on Monday.
Before pulling out, Osaka had enjoyed a strong run in Melbourne, defeating Antonia Ruzic in the opening round (6-3, 3-6, 6-4) and Sorana Cirstea in the second round (6-3, 4-6, 6-2).
Osaka had also gone viral for her dramatic first-round entrance. Wearing a wide-brimmed white hat with a veil and ruffled white pants and carrying a parasol, the two-time Australian Open champion turned heads under the Melbourne lights.
Naomi Osaka with the grandest of grand entrances at the Australian Open!
Married to the game ♀️ pic.twitter.com/g3IaAXu29v
— Bastien Fachan (@BastienFachan) January 20, 2026
The outfit, designed in collaboration with Nike and Robert Wun, was inspired by nature, particularly a jellyfish, rather than pop culture. Butterfly motifs on the outfit referenced Osaka’s 2021 Australian Open triumph, when a butterfly famously landed on her during a third-round match against Ons Jabeur.
Currently ranked World No. 17, Osaka’s withdrawal brings a premature end to one of the most talked-about storylines of the 2026 Australian Open.