Former world number 1, Naomi Osaka, has withdrawn from this year’s Wimbledon due to an Achilles injury sustained in the 2022 Madrid Open where she lost 3-6 1-6 to Spanish Sara Sorribes Tormo in round of 32 at Manolo Santana.
Osaka, who has earlier doubted her possibility of featuring in the event scheduled from June 27 to July 10 due to the removal of ranking from Wimbledon, finally opted out to properly treat the injury.
The Japanese player last featured in Wimbledon three years ago having missed 2020’s following the coronavirus pandemic and the 2021 edition on mental health grounds.
Since the 24-year-old lost 7-5 6-4 in the first round of the 2022 French Open to United States Amanda Anisimova at Court Suzanne Lenglen, she has been out of action undergoing a rehab to fix herself up.
Read Also: SPONCO accuses Okowa of anti-southern activities
Though Osaka is yet to best her 3rd round exits from Wimbledon, the four Grand Slam winner had evaluated the event as merely an exhibition since ATP and WTA stripped it of rankings.
The WTA and ATP decision is a reaction to the sanction meted by All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on Russian and Belarusian athletes from participating in the grass-court event following the military invasion of Ukraine by Russia.
To confirm her withdrawal from Wimbledon, Naomi on Saturday said, “After the storm comes the calm. This is a saying that I’m actively trying to master.
“I feel like life keeps dealing cards and you’re never gonna be used to them but it’s how you adapt to uncomfortable situations that really say stuff about your character. I’ve been repeating mantras in my head a lot recently.
“I don’t know if it’s to subconsciously help myself through stressful times or to ease my mind into realising that everything will work out fine as long as I put the work in.
“Cause what more can you do?” she asked.
The Trumpets reports that Osaka, who was ranked world number 1 on January 28, 2019, with Grand Slam double in US Open and Australian Open respectively, has fallen forty-three steps downward in the WTA latest ranking.
