Just at some point after males’s world primary Carlos Alcaraz pulled out of the Australian Open, the opening calendar Grand Slam suffered one other main setback.
Two-time Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka withdrew her identify from the occasion, making the second huge identify on the ladies’s draw to drag out.
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Osaka reigned supreme in 2019 and 2021, however just a little over every week out from the beginning of the 2023 occasion getting underway pulled the pin on including to her 4 Grand Slam trophies.
Dayana Yastremsk will now take her place in the principle draw with the draw set to be unveiled on Tuesday.
The former world primary final performed in September final 12 months when she withdrew from the second spherical of an occasion in Tokyo resulting from belly ache.
it continues a quite horrir run for feminine winners of the Australian Open with solely two of the previous 10 winners lining as much as play in 2023.
Osaka’s withdrawal comes recent on the heels of Venus Williams pulling the pin and within the greatest blow to the occasion, Alcaraz pulling out resulting from damage.
“I picked up an injury through a chance, unnatural movement in training,” the 19-year-old Spaniard wrote on his Twitter account.
“I’d worked so hard to get to my best level for Australia but unfortunately I won’t be able to play,” the world’s top-ranked participant added.
“It’s tough, but I have to be optimistic, recover and look forward. We’ll see you at the Australian Open in 2024.”
The Australian Open’s official Twitter account wrote in response: “We’re sorry we won’t be seeing you this year @carlosalcaraz Wishing you a swift recovery. See you back on court soon.”
Alcaraz’s withdrawal means defending champion, 22-time main winner and fellow Spaniard Rafael Nadal can be promoted to high seed on the Australian Open which begins in Melbourne on January 16.
Novak Djokovic, the nine-time champion and a 21-time Grand Slam title winner, will transfer into the highest 4 seedings.
That will imply he can not face previous rival Nadal till the semi-finals on the earliest.
Djokovic will return to the Australian Open after being deported from the nation final 12 months over his refusal to be vaccinated.
