Naomi Osaka ‘withdraws from Wimbledon’ after admitting she was unlikely to compete

Naomi Osaka has pulled out of Wimbledon this year, according to reports.

The former world No 1 has previously admitted that she was unlikely to compete at the Grand Slam after it was stripped of its ranking points.

Following the invasion of Ukraine, the WTA and ATP made the bombshell decision, with Russian and Belarusian players also prevented from participating.

Osaka has also been struggling to fully recover from an Achilles issue she sustained during the Italian Open, and admitted that the injury ‘is being stubborn still’. 

An update to the women’s entry list has seemingly confirmed her absence, with Eugenie Bouchard also pulling out in another blow to the All England Club. 

‘The decision (on ranking points) is affecting my mentality going into grass,’ she said last month. ‘I’m not 100 per cent sure if I’m going to go. 

 

‘I would love to go just to get some experience on the grass court, but at the same time, it’s like – I don’t want to say pointless, no pun intended – but I’m the type of player that gets motivated by seeing my ranking go up.

‘I feel like if I play Wimbledon without points, it’s more like an exhibition. I know this isn’t true, but my brain just feels that way. When I think something is like an exhibition, I just can’t go at it 100 per cent.

‘I didn’t make my decision yet, but I’m leaning more towards not playing given the circumstances, but that might change.’ 

Her absence would make the famous tournament the third consecutive grass-court Grand Slam she has missed.

More to follow.