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Naomi Osaka announced her withdrawal from the Australian Open and will be replaced by Dayana Yastremska in the main draw.
The Japanese initially received a lot of backlash for skipping the tournament as she did not play a single match since last year's Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo. However, she later announced that she was pregnant and would be competing at the Asia-Pacific Major in 2024.
Naomi Osaka’s withdrawal from the Asia-Pacific Major came shortly after ATP World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz pulled out after picking up an injury in his right leg while training. Rafael Nadal will replace him as the top seed in the men’s singles event of the Grand Slam.
Osaka and Alcaraz are not the only big names who will miss the competition as there are a few well-known players who will be unable to participate due to fitness or other reasons.
So, without any further ado, let's take a look at the six players who will not compete in the 2023 Australian Open:
#1. Carlos Alcaraz
ATP World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz had an impressive 2022 season which ended with an abdominal injury he suffered at the Paris Masters. As a result, the Spaniard could not compete in the ATP Finals.
Alcaraz looked to return to the ATP tour during the Australian Open but was forced to withdraw from the tournament after picking up a muscle injury in his right leg during training.
"When I was at my best in preseason, I picked up an injury through a chance, unnatural movement in training. This time it's the semimembranosus muscle in my right leg," Alcaraz wrote on Instagram.
"I'd worked so hard to get to my best level for Australia but unfortunately I won't be able to play the Care A2+ Kooyong or the Australian Open. It's tough, but I have to be optimistic, recover and look forward. See you in 2024 @australianopen," he added.
Alcaraz reached the third round of last year's Australian Open before losing to eventual semifinalist Matteo Berrettini in a five-set thriller.
#2. Venus Williams
Venus Williams started her 2023 season at the ASB Classic in Auckland where she reached the second round before losing 3-6, 6-2, 7-5 to China's Zhu Lin.
The 42-year-old was scheduled to compete in the Australian Open after receiving a wildcard for the women's singles event. However, she was forced to pull out of the tournament due to an injury she picked up during the ASB Classic. Her wildcard will now be awarded to Australia's Kim Birrell.
This is the first time Williams will miss two consecutive editions of the Australian Open. The American's last appearance in the tournament came in 2021 when she reached the second round before losing to Sara Errani.
#3. Naomi Osaka
Two-time champion Naomi Osaka withdrew from the Asia-Pacific Major but is yet to reveal her reason behind doing so. The Japanese will be replaced by Dayana Yastremska in the main draw of the tournament.
Osaka has a pretty good record at the Australian Open, winning it twice in 2019 and 2021. She reached the third round of the tournament last year before losing to Amanda Anisimova.
Osaka’s performances have suffered a dip since winning the Melbourne Major in 2021. Her most notable moment of 2022 was reaching the final of the Miami Open. She finished the season ranked 42nd in the world.
#4. Simona Halep
Former World No. 1 Simona Halep is another high-profile player who will miss the 2023 Australian Open.
However, the Romanian's absence is not due to fitness reasons as she is provisionally suspended from tennis by the International Tennis Integration Association after testing positive for Roxadustat, a banned substance that not only treats anemia but also enhances an athlete's endurance. The Romanian is set to contest the ban and has requested an emergency hearing in light of new findings.
Halep had a resurgent 2022 season which saw her return to the Top-10 of the WTA rankings, having suffered a drop in 2021. She reached the fourth round of the Melbourne Grand Slam last year before losing to Alize Cornet.
#5. Marin Cilic
ATP World No. 18 Marin Cilic withdrew from the 2023 Australian Open after suffering a knee injury while training ahead of his quarterfinal at the Tata Open in Pune.
"Not a great start to 2023 and few tough days in Melbourne. Devastated I can't play this year at @AustralianOpen but health comes first. See you next year Melbourne," the Croat tweeted.
Cilic has been a regular at the Australian Open throughout his career and his best performance came in 2018 when he reached the final before losing to Roger Federer. He also made it to the semifinals in 2010 before losing to Andy Murray.
Last year, the Croat reached the fourth round of the Australian Open where he lost to Felix Auger-Aliassime.
#6. Paula Badosa
Paula Badosa is the most recent withdrawal from the 2023 Australian Open. The Spaniard suffered a thigh injury during her gruelling Adelaide International 2 quarterfinal against Beatriz Haddad Maia. The injury initially ruled her out of the tournament's semifinal and will now keep her sidelined for a few weeks.
"Hi everyone, Bad news... During the quarter final match in Adelaide, I hurt myself and after receiving the results I will have to be out a few weeks... Sad to miss Australian Open this year, really going to miss it. "I will do everything to return as soon as possible. See you soon," Badosa wrote in her Instagram stories.
The Spaniard had her best outing at the Australian Open last year, reaching the fourth round before losing 6-3, 6-1 to Madison Keys.
#7. Gael Monfils
Gael Monfils reached the quarterfinals of the 2022 Australian Open where he put in a tough fight against Matteo Berrettini before losing in five sets. After that, he suffered a string of injuries that eventually ended his 2022 season early.
The Frenchman is yet to play a match since the Canadian Open and said last month that he would miss the year's first Major in 2023.
“I think that you know, there is the protected ranking, when you don’t play for a certain amount of months. I know that if I take it, I have to not play the Australian Open to reach the six months needed and that will be my decision." the 36-year-old said.
#8. Reilly Opelka
Reilly Opelka's second half of the 2022 season was riddled with injuries as he missed several tournaments, including the US Open, thus suffering a massive drop in the ATP rankings.
The American was included on the entry list for the 2023 Australian Open and looked to return to action at the tournament. However, he recently withdrew from the Asia-Pacific Major due to injury. His place will be taken by China's Zhang Zhizhen.
Opelka competed in last year's Major Down Under and reached the third round before losing to eventual quarterfinalist Denis Shapovalov.
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