Naomi Osaka to miss Wimbledon with a leg injury; former world No 1 had previously said she was unlikely to play after tournament had its ranking points removed following decision to ban Russian and Belarusian players due to ongoing invasion of Ukraine
Last Updated: 18/06/22 2:34pm
Naomi Osaka has withdrawn from Wimbledon due to a leg injury
Former world No 1 Naomi Osaka has withdrawn from Wimbledon due to a leg injury, organisers have announced.
Osaka has been struggling with an Achilles issue she picked up during the Italian Open last month and will now miss the grass-court major for the third year in a row.
The 24-year-old had previously said that she was unlikely to compete at the All England Club this year after the tournament had its rankings points removed.
The ATP and WTA made that call after Wimbledon chose to ban Russian and Belarusian players from participating due to the ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
“The decision (on ranking points) is affecting my mentality going into grass,” Osaka said in May. “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 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.”
