Naomi Osaka and Aryna Sabalenka have both withdrawn from the Australian Open due to health concerns. Osaka, who was the top seed in the women's singles draw, cited a "medical issue" as the reason for her withdrawal, while Sabalenka pulled out with an "ankle injury". The withdrawals mean that Coco Gauff will face Liudmila Samsonova in the first round of the women's singles competition.
Australian Open 2026: Naomi Osaka withdraws from Grand Slam tournament through injury
- Thread starter Crazy
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Ugh, just what we need another Australian Open cancellation 
... I mean, I get it, health is super important and all, but can't these tournaments just be more considerate? Naomi Osaka was basically robbed of a chance to make some history, and now Aryna Sabalenka's ankle injury is going to take her out for the whole tournament 
. And what about all the fans who were looking forward to seeing them play? It's just not fair 
.
And now Coco Gauff has got an even tougher draw than expected... Liudmila Samsonova is a great player, but she's going to have her hands full trying to take down Coco
. I'm all for prioritizing the players' health and safety, but can't we just have one tournament without any major withdrawals? It's like they're setting up some kind of scripted narrative or something 
... Anyway, fingers crossed that the rest of the tournament goes smoothly 
.
... I mean, I get it, health is super important and all, but can't these tournaments just be more considerate? Naomi Osaka was basically robbed of a chance to make some history, and now Aryna Sabalenka's ankle injury is going to take her out for the whole tournament . And what about all the fans who were looking forward to seeing them play? It's just not fair .And now Coco Gauff has got an even tougher draw than expected... Liudmila Samsonova is a great player, but she's going to have her hands full trying to take down Coco
. I'm all for prioritizing the players' health and safety, but can't we just have one tournament without any major withdrawals? It's like they're setting up some kind of scripted narrative or something ... Anyway, fingers crossed that the rest of the tournament goes smoothly . just saw that Naomi Osaka and Aryna Sabalenka are bailing on the Aussie Open 
... health concerns, yeah I get it. Can't have you guys risking everything for a tournament, gotta keep yourself safe 
. But Coco Gauff is gonna be up against Liudmila Samsonova in the first round? That's like throwing a curveball out of nowhere 
. I think Gauff's got this one in the bag though, she's been on fire lately 
. Maybe the Aussie Open organizers should consider having some more medical professionals on site, just saying 
... or maybe it's just common sense to err on the side of caution I'm not surprised to see two top players pulling out from the Australian Open... health issues can be super scary and unpredictable, you know? Naomi Osaka was on fire last year but now she's dealing with a medical issue... hope it's not something serious 
.And Aryna Sabalenka, poor thing, ankle injuries are always a pain (literally!
) - I wish her a speedy recovery so she can get back to competing.But you know what's weird? The draw just got even more interesting with Coco Gauff facing Liudmila Samsonova... it'll be a tough match for her. Still, I think Gauff has the potential to make some noise in this tournament
. We'll just have to wait and see how she handles the pressure 
.
I'm totally bummed about Naomi Osaka and Aryna Sabalenka withdrawing from the Australian Open 
. I know health comes first, but it's always sad when top players like that are forced to miss out on a tournament. Did you guys see those stats on injury rates in tennis? It's crazy high 
! Like, 50% of players experience some kind of injury each year... Anyway, Coco Gauff vs Liudmila Samsonova is gonna be an interesting match
. I've got my eyes on that one. By the way, have you seen the attendance figures for the Aussie Open in recent years? It's been steadily increasing by 10-15% each year 
! The tournament just keeps getting bigger and more popular... 
The news about Naomi Osaka and Aryna Sabalenka withdrawing from the Australian Open is a bit of a bummer, especially given their strong track records in the sport. I mean, Osaka was looking fierce as the top seed, and Sabalenka had been on a roll, so it's always sad to see talented athletes like them take a step back due to health concerns 
.On the other hand, it's great that we're seeing a more nuanced understanding of athlete wellness in sports. Iosifidis et al.'s work on athlete burnout and mental fatigue has shown us just how critical it is for athletes to prioritize their physical and mental health, especially during intense competition periods
.Now, with Osaka and Sabalenka out, Coco Gauff will be facing Liudmila Samsonova in the first round. I'm curious to see how this match plays out – Gauff's aggressive playing style might give Samsonova a run for her money
.Ugh, just what we needed, another major tennis tournament cancelled due to some player's personal issues . I mean, I feel bad for Naomi Osaka and Aryna Sabalenka, but can't they just make an announcement like a normal person instead of playing the "medical issue" card? It's so overdone at this point 
. And now we get to watch Coco Gauff struggle with Liudmila Samsonova... I guess that'll be entertaining for some people, anyway . On the bright side, maybe this will give everyone a chance to catch up on their Netflix shows while they're waiting for the tournament to resume. Silver linings, right?
. I mean, I feel bad for Naomi Osaka and Aryna Sabalenka, but can't they just make an announcement like a normal person instead of playing the "medical issue" card? It's so overdone at this point . And now we get to watch Coco Gauff struggle with Liudmila Samsonova... I guess that'll be entertaining for some people, anyway . On the bright side, maybe this will give everyone a chance to catch up on their Netflix shows while they're waiting for the tournament to resume. Silver linings, right? Osaka was on fire, now she's MIA 
. Sabalenka too, ankle issues are no joke 
. Hope they're both okay soon . Gauff is gonna have a tough one vs Samsonova, but I got faith in Coco 
. Can't believe how quickly the draw changed 
. Guess we'll see how Coco handles this new challenge .I gotta say, it's pretty harsh to be so quick to judge these top players. I mean, we don't even know what's going on with their health issues. Naomi Osaka just dropped the bombshell that she was withdrawing and now people are already speculating about her mental health... like, hello? We shouldn't be making assumptions about someone's personal life based on a simple withdrawal. And Aryna Sabalenka's ankle injury could've happened to anyone, you know? We're always talking about player burnout and the pressure of competition, but what about taking care of yourself when you need it most?
It's crazy how much attention is focused on the withdrawals instead of wishing these players a speedy recovery. I'm sure they'll be back to their old selves in no time. And let's not forget Coco Gauff has to navigate this tough draw without two top seeds... that's some next-level nerves right there!
It's crazy how much attention is focused on the withdrawals instead of wishing these players a speedy recovery. I'm sure they'll be back to their old selves in no time. And let's not forget Coco Gauff has to navigate this tough draw without two top seeds... that's some next-level nerves right there!
This is what happens when you're a pro and can't even make it to the tournament 
. Naomi Osaka was robbed of her chance at another title, and Aryna Sabalenka's ankle injury is super concerning... hope she recovers quickly . Now Coco Gauff gets to shine in the Aussie sun 
, but let's be real, she's gonna get smashed by Liudmila Samsonova . The tennis world just got a lot less interesting .I'm so bummed to hear about Naomi and Aryna withdrawing from the Aussie Open 
. I was really looking forward to watching them play, especially Naomi - she's always been one of my fave players on court! I feel bad for her, hope whatever medical issue is, it's not too serious .
And poor Aryna with that ankle injury - ankle problems are the WORST. You can never really shake off that nagging feeling that something's about to go wrong 
. On a brighter note, Coco Gauff vs Liudmila Samsonova is gonna be an epic match! I'm curious to see how Coco handles the pressure now 
. Guess we'll just have to tune in and find out!
. I was really looking forward to watching them play, especially Naomi - she's always been one of my fave players on court! I feel bad for her, hope whatever medical issue is, it's not too serious .And poor Aryna with that ankle injury
- ankle problems are the WORST. You can never really shake off that nagging feeling that something's about to go wrong . On a brighter note, Coco Gauff vs Liudmila Samsonova is gonna be an epic match! I'm curious to see how Coco handles the pressure now . Guess we'll just have to tune in and find out! I'm still trying to wrap my head around this Australian Open news . First off, Naomi Osaka is our girl, I loved her tennis skills and her personality on court 
. But health issues can creep up at any time, I feel bad for her. Then Aryna Sabalenka's withdrawal with an ankle injury, poor luck . You'd think the Aussies have better medical facilities to prevent these kinds of withdrawals from happening in the first place.
Anyway, this means Coco Gauff gets a free pass into the tournament and she'll be facing Liudmila Samsonova. It's like, one thing after another isn't it? But let's see how Coco bounces back from this. I'm curious to watch her play. The question is, will she be able to get past Samsonova without any more issues? We'll have to wait and see...
. First off, Naomi Osaka is our girl, I loved her tennis skills and her personality on court . But health issues can creep up at any time, I feel bad for her. Then Aryna Sabalenka's withdrawal with an ankle injury, poor luck . You'd think the Aussies have better medical facilities to prevent these kinds of withdrawals from happening in the first place.Anyway, this means Coco Gauff gets a free pass into the tournament and she'll be facing Liudmila Samsonova. It's like, one thing after another isn't it? But let's see how Coco bounces back from this. I'm curious to watch her play
. The question is, will she be able to get past Samsonova without any more issues? We'll have to wait and see...The Aussie Open is already shaping up to be a wild card draw 
I'm kinda bummed for Naomi, she was gonna crush it as top seed 
. But on the bright side, Coco Gauff getting a sweet bye into the first round can't hurt her chances of making a deep run . Samsonova's an interesting opponent, always been a bit of a dark horse in big tournaments 
. I'm thinking Liudmila's gonna come out strong and give Coco a run for her money . But hey, you never know what can happen at the Aussie Open - anything can pop!
I'm kinda bummed for Naomi, she was gonna crush it as top seed . But on the bright side, Coco Gauff getting a sweet bye into the first round can't hurt her chances of making a deep run . Samsonova's an interesting opponent, always been a bit of a dark horse in big tournaments . I'm thinking Liudmila's gonna come out strong and give Coco a run for her money . But hey, you never know what can happen at the Aussie Open - anything can pop! I'm not surprised to see Naomi Osaka and Aryna Sabalenka pulling out like this . These tennis stars have been under so much pressure, both physically and mentally, it's only natural that they'd prioritize their health. I mean, you can't just force yourself to push through when your body's telling you otherwise .
It's actually kind of refreshing to see the Australian Open acknowledging their concerns and giving them space. No more forcing them back into action if they're not feeling 100%. That's what I call good sportsmanship
. And who knows, maybe this is just a wake-up call for them to re-evaluate their priorities and take care of themselves better.
Coco Gauff is gonna come out strong though. She's got the talent and the drive to make it happen. Fingers crossed she takes advantage of this opportunity .
. These tennis stars have been under so much pressure, both physically and mentally, it's only natural that they'd prioritize their health. I mean, you can't just force yourself to push through when your body's telling you otherwise .It's actually kind of refreshing to see the Australian Open acknowledging their concerns and giving them space. No more forcing them back into action if they're not feeling 100%. That's what I call good sportsmanship
. And who knows, maybe this is just a wake-up call for them to re-evaluate their priorities and take care of themselves better.Coco Gauff is gonna come out strong though
. She's got the talent and the drive to make it happen. Fingers crossed she takes advantage of this opportunity .I'm still trying to wrap my head around these two big names pulling out from the Aussie Open 
. Naomi Osaka was supposed to be a major contender and Aryna Sabalenka had been on fire all year long . I mean, what could've caused them both to withdraw at this stage?
I'm not surprised it's ankle injuries for Aryna, that kind of thing can happen to anyone
. But Naomi's withdrawal is a bit more mysterious 
. Hopefully, they're both okay and just need some time to sort out whatever issues they're dealing with .
Anyway, this does change the dynamic of the tournament now. Coco Gauff has gotta be feeling pretty good about her chances though ! She's got a tough opponent in Liudmila Samsonova, but I think she can handle it 
. Let's see how it all plays out
. Naomi Osaka was supposed to be a major contender and Aryna Sabalenka had been on fire all year long . I mean, what could've caused them both to withdraw at this stage? I'm not surprised it's ankle injuries for Aryna, that kind of thing can happen to anyone
. But Naomi's withdrawal is a bit more mysterious . Hopefully, they're both okay and just need some time to sort out whatever issues they're dealing with .Anyway, this does change the dynamic of the tournament now
. Coco Gauff has gotta be feeling pretty good about her chances though ! She's got a tough opponent in Liudmila Samsonova, but I think she can handle it . Let's see how it all plays out OMG I'm so bummed about Naomi Osaka and Aryna Sabalenka withdrawing from the Aussie Open 
! Those two are my ultimate fave players 
! I was super hyped for Osaka to dominate the competition as the top seed 
, but now she's gotta take care of that "medical issue" whatever it is . And Sabalenka just got hurt , ankle injuries are so no good for her game 
.
But you know what? Coco Gauff is still gonna crush Liudmila Samsonova! I'm rooting for Coco all the way 
! The tennis world just lost two of its brightest stars 
, but I'm sure they'll be back stronger than ever . Fingers crossed Osaka and Sabalenka can bounce back soon !
I'm so bummed about Naomi Osaka and Aryna Sabalenka withdrawing from the Aussie Open ! Those two are my ultimate fave players ! I was super hyped for Osaka to dominate the competition as the top seed , but now she's gotta take care of that "medical issue" whatever it is . And Sabalenka just got hurt , ankle injuries are so no good for her game .But you know what? Coco Gauff is still gonna crush Liudmila Samsonova
! I'm rooting for Coco all the way ! The tennis world just lost two of its brightest stars , but I'm sure they'll be back stronger than ever . Fingers crossed Osaka and Sabalenka can bounce back soon !So I'm reading about Naomi Osaka and Aryna Sabalenka pulling out of the Australian Open, and it's just really disappointing . I know they're both top-notch players, so it's a shame to see them struggle with their health right now. Osaka was supposed to be a strong contender in the women's singles draw, and now her "medical issue" has left a pretty big hole in the competition.
It's also kind of annoying that we don't know what's going on with either of them - are they okay? Is it something serious or just a minor setback? The tennis world is always so quick to speculate, but sometimes you just have to wait and see what happens next. On the other hand, I'm kinda stoked for Coco Gauff - she's been playing some awesome tennis lately, and I think she's got this! Samsonova might be a tough opponent, but Gauff's got the skills to take her down. Fingers crossed for a thrilling match!
. I know they're both top-notch players, so it's a shame to see them struggle with their health right now. Osaka was supposed to be a strong contender in the women's singles draw, and now her "medical issue" has left a pretty big hole in the competition.It's also kind of annoying that we don't know what's going on with either of them - are they okay? Is it something serious or just a minor setback? The tennis world is always so quick to speculate, but sometimes you just have to wait and see what happens next. On the other hand, I'm kinda stoked for Coco Gauff - she's been playing some awesome tennis lately, and I think she's got this! Samsonova might be a tough opponent, but Gauff's got the skills to take her down
. Fingers crossed for a thrilling match!Ugh I'm so bummed about this ... Osaka was one of my favorite players and she just had to pull out like that? No explanation at all! I mean, I feel bad for her or whatever but can't even get any info on what's going on with her medical issue? It's just weird. And Sabalenka too, ankle injury, really? That's just not fair to the other players... I was looking forward to watching those matches and now it's like everything is cancelled . Poor Coco Gauff, she's got a tough draw already but now she's gotta face Samsonova instead of Osaka? It's just one thing after another...
... Osaka was one of my favorite players and she just had to pull out like that? No explanation at all! I mean, I feel bad for her or whatever but can't even get any info on what's going on with her medical issue? It's just weird. And Sabalenka too, ankle injury, really? That's just not fair to the other players... I was looking forward to watching those matches and now it's like everything is cancelled . Poor Coco Gauff, she's got a tough draw already but now she's gotta face Samsonova instead of Osaka? It's just one thing after another...I'm kinda bummed about Naomi Osaka and Aryna Sabalenka pulling out from the Aussie Open... I was really looking forward to seeing them take on some top-notch opponents . A medical issue and an ankle injury, eh? Hope they're taking care of themselves and get back to tennis soon 
.
But, you know, it's all part of the game, right? Injuries happen, and now we gotta deal with Coco Gauff vs Liudmila Samsonova in the first round. I'm curious, what do you guys think about this new matchup? Do you think Coco has a good shot at taking it down or is she gonna get knocked out early 
?
. A medical issue and an ankle injury, eh? Hope they're taking care of themselves and get back to tennis soon .But, you know, it's all part of the game, right? Injuries happen, and now we gotta deal with Coco Gauff vs Liudmila Samsonova in the first round
. I'm curious, what do you guys think about this new matchup? Do you think Coco has a good shot at taking it down or is she gonna get knocked out early ?I'm so bummed to hear this... I was really looking forward to watching some awesome tennis at the Aus Open . Naomi Osaka and Aryna Sabalenka are two of my favorite players, and now they're both out? It just goes to show that even the pros can't escape a good old-fashioned Aussie summer burnout .
I mean, I get it, health comes first and all that, but it's always a shame when these tournaments get shortened. And Coco Gauff is gonna have to step up big time against Liudmila Samsonova... fingers crossed for her! She's got some awesome skills, and I love watching her play.
It just makes me nostalgic for the good old days of tennis - you know, when we didn't have all these fancy medical protocols and injuries were a rare thing? Ah well, times change, and players gotta prioritize their health. Still, it's always sad to see some of your favorite athletes take a seat on the sidelines .
. Naomi Osaka and Aryna Sabalenka are two of my favorite players, and now they're both out? It just goes to show that even the pros can't escape a good old-fashioned Aussie summer burnout .I mean, I get it, health comes first and all that, but it's always a shame when these tournaments get shortened. And Coco Gauff is gonna have to step up big time against Liudmila Samsonova... fingers crossed for her!
She's got some awesome skills, and I love watching her play.It just makes me nostalgic for the good old days of tennis - you know, when we didn't have all these fancy medical protocols and injuries were a rare thing?
Ah well, times change, and players gotta prioritize their health. Still, it's always sad to see some of your favorite athletes take a seat on the sidelines .