Naomi Osaka Withdraws from Australian Open Due to Injury: ‘Having to Stop Here Breaks My Heart’

Naomi Osaka is withdrawing from the 2026 Australian Open due to an undisclosed injury.

The tennis star, 28, said in a post on her Instagram Stories that she suffered some “damage” during her recent match against Romanian player, Sorana Cîrstea, as she confirmed her departure from the tournament on Saturday, Jan. 24.

“I’ve had to make the difficult decision to withdraw to address something my body needs attention for after my last match,” wrote Osaka. “I was so excited to keep going and this one meant the most to me, so having to stop here breaks my heart, but I can’t risk doing any further damage, so I can get back on the court.”

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Osaka went on to thank those who supported her throughout the tournament, adding, “I’m so grateful everyone embraced me so much.”

A representative for Osaka did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for further comment.

Osaka’s departure comes just hours before she was scheduled to play her third-round match against Australian qualifier Maddison Inglis at the Australian Open on Saturday, Jan. 24.

Osaka suffered an abdominal injury during her match against Cîrstea, 35, at the Open on Thursday, Jan. 22, which she won with scores of 6-3, 4-6, 6-2, according to the BBC.

The players were seen in a heated exchange during the match, as Cîrstea criticized Osaka for speaking between her first and second serves.

Osaka was heard telling herself, “Come on,” as Cîrstea prepared to serve. A video shows the Romanian player then asking the umpire if “this is OK,” questioning if her opponent was allowed to talk in between serves.

“Between serves? You haven’t got the ball yet, either,” the official responded. Cîrstea then repeats Osaka’s comments, asking again, “Can I go, ‘come on,’ and talk?”

“You’re not serving yet so this is not a hindrance to you. So this was OK,” the umpire replied.

After the match, Cîrstea appeared to give Osaka an icy handshake. The pair then had what appeared to be a heated exchange near the umpire’s chair.

When asked afterwards about the exchange, Osaka said, “Apparently a lot of ‘come ons’ that she was angry about,” adding that she “thinks” her opponent was complaining about her talking to herself between serves, per the BBC.

“But, like, she could have asked me. I’m sorry,” said Osaka. “She’s a great player. I think this was her last Australian Open, so sorry she was mad about it.”