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Two-time champion Naomi Osaka has withdrawn from her Australian Open third-round match shortly before she was due to take the court against home qualifier Maddison Inglis.<\/b><\/p>\n
Japan’s Osaka, 28, has cited a left abdominal injury – which she has a history of problems with – for pulling out.<\/p>\n
The announcement came about two hours before the pair were expected to take to Rod Laver Arena in Saturday’s night session. <\/p>\n
Osaka, who was seeded 16th, made the decision after warming up at Melbourne Park earlier.<\/p>\n
“I thought I could push through it,” said Osaka, who won the Melbourne title in 2019 and 2021.<\/p>\n
“I played my last match with some pain and thought maybe if I gave myself a break before my match, I would be able to handle it.”<\/p>\n
Four-time major champion Osaka, who also claimed US Open titles in 2018 and 2020, needed a medical timeout during Thursday’s win over Romania’s Sorana Cirstea. <\/p>\n
Afterwards, she admitted it was a “reoccurring thing” and suggested her injury history would allow reporters to guess what the issue was.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n