Osaka, who captured the Australian Open title in 2019 and 2021, had won her first two matches in Melbourne, defeating Antonia Ruzic and then surviving a tense second-round battle with Sorana Cirstea. But the Japanese star announced on Instagram that she would not continue, explaining that she needed to “address something my body needs attention for” following her last match.
“I’ve had to make the difficult decision to withdraw,” she wrote. “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 thanked fans, her team, and tournament organisers for their support, adding that she was “grateful everyone embraced me so much.”
Her withdrawal means Inglis will progress to the fourth round via walkover — the first time the Australian qualifier has reached that stage at the tournament.
A Return That Sparked Headlines
Osaka’s return to Melbourne had already captured global attention, beginning with her theatrical first-round entrance. The former world No. 1 walked onto Rod Laver Arena wearing a wide-brimmed hat, veil, and carrying a white parasol — an outfit she said she had designed with Nike, her clothing sponsor.
Her second-round victory over Cirstea was equally dramatic, but not for the right reasons. The match ended on an awkward note as the two players barely exchanged a handshake. Cirstea briefly glanced at Osaka before turning away, while Osaka appeared visibly confused and asked, “What was that for?”
Cirstea later expressed frustration over Osaka’s in-match celebrations, specifically her vocal “come ons,” suggesting they contributed to the tension.
Osaka brushed off the incident afterward, noting that it may have been Cirstea’s final Australian Open and that emotions can run high in those moments.
Reaction From the Tennis World
Former British No. 1 Tim Henman called Osaka’s withdrawal “a big surprise,” noting that she had seemed committed to getting back into form after spending significant time in Australia, including competing in the United Cup.
“You felt like she was trying to play herself into form,” Henman said. “She was in Australia for a long time… working on her core, but it’s not to be.”
Keys vs Pegula: Podcast Rivalry Turns On-Court Showdown
With Osaka’s exit, attention now shifts to another headline matchup: Madison Keys vs. Jessica Pegula.
The two Americans — who co-host the podcast The Player’s Box — will meet in the fourth round, and they’ve already promised to make it entertaining. Keys joked after her 6–3, 6–3 win over Karolina Pliskova that the pair should film a podcast episode before their match.
Both players have discussed a playful forfeit for the loser, with Pegula reportedly wanting Keys to eat a slice of apple pie topped with cheese — a proposal Keys said she would refuse.
Despite their friendly banter, Keys said she expects the match to be fiercely competitive.
“We could literally be friends and laughing until the moment we walk on the court,” she said. “Then in that moment we both want to win and we both are competitors. The moment it’s over, you’re back to being friends.”
American Momentum in Melbourne
Keys’ win sets up a high-profile clash with Pegula, who continued her dominant run with a 6–3, 6–2 victory over Oksana Selekhmeteva. Meanwhile, fourth seed Amanda Anisimova became the fifth American woman to reach the last 16, defeating fellow American Peyton Stearns 6–1, 6–4.