Naomi Osaka Withdraws From 2025 Abu Dhabi Open After Latest Setback
News
Many high-profile players will compete at next week's 2025 Abu Dhabi Open, but Naomi Osaka withdrew from the tournament.
Osaka began the new season by reaching her first final since the 2022 Miami Open at the ASB Classic in New Zealand. Sadly, the four-time Grand Slam champion retired after the first set with an abdominal injury.
There were doubts about whether Osaka would be fit for the Australian Open after that injury, but she recovered enough to defeat Caroline Garcia in the opening round of the Grand Slam in Melbourne.
That was followed by one of Osaka's best victories in recent years against Karolina Muchova. After being outplayed in the first set, the Japanese star stormed back to win, and her injury issues seemed to be of no concern anymore.
Unfortunately, Osaka's abdominal problem had not entirely subsided. She retired after losing the first set of her third-round Australian Open match against Belinda Bencic, ending her hopes of a deep run at the event she has won twice.
Osaka was not guaranteed entry to the Abu Dhabi Open, regardless of how she recovered from that injury. The 27-year-old would have needed other players to withdraw because she was on the alternates list.
It has been confirmed by the WTA that Osaka withdrew from the alternates list. The governing body of women's tennis did not provide an official reason for that decision when it gave the news.
However, it seems evident that Osaka has not recovered from her abdominal injury. The former world No. 1 is likely being extra cautious after aggravating the problem by playing at the Australian Open without enough recovery time.
Osaka recently recovered from a back injury sustained in her China Open match against Coco Gauff a few months ago. She needs to be fit for several months in a row to show that her level is still high enough to challenge for significant tournaments.
There were signs that Osaka could get near the top of women's tennis again in her opening events of 2025. The two-time US Open champion was inconsistent throughout 2024, her first season since returning from maternity leave.
Osaka split from Wim Fissette, who now coaches Iga Swiatek, after last year's tournament at Flushing Meadows and hired Serena Williams' former coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, whose first tournament with her was the China Open in Beijing.
Missing the closing stages of the 2024 season because of the back injury she picked up against Gauff meant the ASB Classic was their second event together. Osaka reaching a final so early into her partnership with Mouratoglou was impressive.
The French coach's impact on Osaka's game seems positive. However, her injury problems in all three tournaments since Mouratoglou became coach are slightly concerning and might need to be addressed.
Nonetheless, Osaka's run to the final in Auckland and victories against Garcia and Muchova showed her immense ability. Combining that with more consistency and fewer injury problems could make 2025 a special year for the fan favorite.
