Melbourne, Former two-time champion Naomi Osaka of Japan has withdrawn from this year's Australian Open, the tournament announced on Sunday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
With Osaka's withdrawal, Ukraine's Dayana Yastremska moves into the main draw.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Naomi Osaka has withdrawn from the Australian Open. We will miss her at #AO2023. Dayana Yastremska moves into the main draw," the Australian Open tweeted on Sunday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
A champion in Melbourne in 2019 and 2021, Osaka has not played a competitive match since the US Open 2022 where she lost her first-round match in women's singles to Danielle Collins of the United States in straight sets 6-7 (5-7), 3-6.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Last year in Melbourne, the former No.1 advanced to the third round, where she bowed out after losing to Amanda Anisimova 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(5).<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Osaka's name is the latest addition in the Australian Open players withdrawal list. Earlier, seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams has also pulled out of season's first Grand Slam after sustaining an injury at the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
World No. 1 men's singles player Carlos Alcaraz of Spain has also pulled out of the 2023 season's first major.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"When I was at my best in the preseason I picked up an injury through a chance, unnatural movement in training," he wrote on Twitter. "This time it's the semimembranosus muscle in my right leg."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"I'd worked so hard to get to my best level for Australia but unfortunately I won't be able to play the Care A2+ Kooyong [exhibition event] or the Australian Open. It's tough, but I have to be optimistic, recover and look forward. See you in 2024 Australian Open," he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"When I was at my best in the preseason I picked up an injury through a chance, unnatural movement in training," he wrote on Twitter. "This time it's the semimembranosus muscle in my right leg."<\/p>\r\n\r\n