Naomi Osaka has withdrawn from this week’s Italian Open due to a left ankle injury, the tennis star announced Monday.
“Unfortunately I’m going to have to withdraw from Rome as the injury which I picked up last week in Madrid hasn’t healed yet,” Osaka said in a statement. “It’s an Achilles injury so I need to be careful especially in advance of Roland Garros.”
The French Open is scheduled to begin in less than two weeks.
“I love this city and always enjoy playing in front of the Italian fans so I will be sorry to miss them – but look forward to coming back next year,” Osaka continued.
Osaka had tweeted Sunday that “sometimes life doesn’t go as planned and you just gotta find joy in the unknown.” It’s unclear if she was referencing the injury.
Sometimes life doesn’t go as planned and you just gotta find joy in the unknown.— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) May 8, 2022
Sometimes life doesn’t go as planned and you just gotta find joy in the unknown.
The four-time Grand Slam champion sustained the injury in her opening round victory over Anastasia Potapova in Madrid. She then struggled to play with it, losing 6-3, 6-1 to Sara Sorribes Tormo in the second round.
Before that, Osaka made it all the way to the final at the Miami Open, where she lost to world No. 1 Iga Swiatek.
Nuria Parrizas-Diaz will take Osaka’s spot in the draw.