Australian Open officials are ‘scrambling’ to find out if Naomi Osaka will play

Australian Open officials reportedly remain in the dark as to whether two-time champion Naomi Osaka will play – with organisers unsure if she has even headed down under.  

Just 11 days from the opening Grand Slam of 2023, Osaka, who won the women’s tournament at Melbourne Park in 2019 and 2021, is a question mark for organisers, in what would represent a major blow to the women’s draw if she did not feature. 

Osaka has kept a low profile of late, not playing a match in four months and giving very few indicators she is ramping up her training for Australia.

There are doubts as to whether former world No 1 Naomi Osaka will play the Australian Open

Osaka has recently been on holiday in Europe with her boyfriend, as they saw the Mona Lisa

Her Instagram revealed that she has recently touched back down in the United States following a holiday in Europe with rapper boyfriend Cordae.

One of the images she posted shows the pair in Paris, France, posing in front of the famous Mona Lisa painting at the Louvre.

A second indicator that she is still not in Australia surfaced on her Instagram story when she was tagged in a photo taken in a Los Angeles pilates studio.

Osaka has not played a match in four months and does not appear to be bound for Australia

The Australian Associated Press have reported that while Osaka is named on the entry list for the women’s singles, organisers are ‘quietly resigned’ to the former world No 1 not playing. 

The report adds that some are even questioning if she will ever make a return to the tennis court. 

Her absence from tune-up events at both Adelaide or Hobart have been viewed as a signifier of her anticipated Melbourne absence.  

Absences of 2022 Australian Open champion Ash Barty, who chose to retire, as well as Serena Williams and Roger Federer already mean a number of the sport’s biggest names will play no part in the season-opening slam, much to the chagrin of organisers. 

 She was beaten in the first round of the US Open and is believed to still be out in the US now

Osaka, now down at world No 42, has not played since she withdrew from a second round match in Tokyo back in September due to complaining of abdominal pains. 

Her last win came against Daria Saville in Tokyo – but that was an incomplete match with Aussie Saville suffering a torn ACL.

Osaka’s form, or lack thereof, has seen her exit in the first round of her last three tournaments, including the final slam of 2022, the US Open, losing in straight sets to Danielle Collins.  

The draw for the Australian Open will take place next Thursday and all eyes are glued to the entry sheet to see if Osaka officially pulls out.