Osaka won the title in 2019 and 2021. She made it to the third round last year, the former No. 1, losing to Amanda Anisimova 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (5). She was eliminated in her first round at last year’s US Open and played her last at the Pan Pacific Her Open in Tokyo in September.
She reached the second round of that tournament before withdrawing due to illness.
Osaka’s withdrawal from the Australian Open came a day after seven-time American Grand Slam champion Venus Williams was ruled out of the Australian Open after being injured in an organizer’s double strike.
Entering his season, Williams suffered an injury at the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand, forcing him to withdraw from the Australian Open where he received a wild card.
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Osaka, whose world ranking has dropped to 42nd, has taken a break to prioritize his mental health after missing the 2021 French Open, after which he said he was battling depression.
