Naomi Osaka withdraws from Wimbledon with Achilles injury

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Four-time major winner Naomi Osaka has announced that she will not be competing at this year’s Wimbledon due to an Achilles injury.
The 24-year-old had previously expressed doubts over competing in the Grand Slam tournament after the ATP and WTA stripped Wimbledon’s ranking points over their ban on Russian and Belarusian players.

Osaka has been out of action since the French Open and is yet to take the grass in 2022, and the Japanese player has now announced that her physical problem will render her unavailable for the tournament.

“I feel like life keeps dealing cards and you’re never going to be used to them but it’s how you adapt to uncomfortable situations that really says stuff about your character,” Osaka wrote on Instagram.

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“Everyday before I go to sleep I think of all the people I love and how grateful I am to have them in my life. I honestly just wish the best for them and I hope that my existence brings them as much joy as they do me.”

Osaka’s best finish at Wimbledon has been third-round exits in 2017 and 2018, as she decided not to take part in the 2021 edition in order to prioritise her mental health.

Following her return to the court, Osaka has made it to the third round of the US and Australian Opens before being knocked out in round one at Roland Garros to Amanda Anisimova.

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