Naomi Osaka withdraws from Australian Open after heated exchange

Naomi Osaka withdraws from Australian Open after heated exchange originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Naomi Osaka’s 2026 Australian Open run has come to an abrupt end, with the four-time Grand Slam champion announcing her withdrawal just hours before her scheduled third-round match.

Osaka shared the update via Instagram, explaining that a physical issue picked up during her previous match made it impossible to continue. While she didn’t initially specify the injury, she made clear the decision was about protecting her long-term health.

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“I was so excited to keep going and this one meant the most to me,” Osaka wrote. “Having to stop here breaks my heart, but I can’t risk doing any further damage, so I can get back on the court.”

Tournament officials later confirmed that Osaka is dealing with a left abdominal issue. The injury surfaced during her three-set win over Romania’s Sorana Cîrstea on Thursday, a match that proved both physically and emotionally taxing.

Osaka’s exit also comes on the heels of a tense moment that quickly made headlines. Following her 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 victory, Osaka and Cîrstea appeared to exchange sharp words during the post-match handshake. The disagreement stemmed from Osaka audibly saying “come on” between serves, which visibly frustrated Cîrstea.

Officials reviewed the situation and ruled that Osaka had not violated any rules. Still, the moment lingered into Osaka’s post-match media availability, where she addressed the exchange directly.

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“She was mad about it,” Osaka said. “She’s a great player. I think this was her last Australian Open, so sorry she was mad about it.”