Two-time champion Naomi Osaka recently confirmed that she will not participate in the Australian Open, adding to a growing list of popular absentees.

The Organisers of the tournament confirmed the same via a tweet on Sunday that Osaka, who won the Australian Open in 2019 and 2021, will not feature in this edition that is going to take place in Melbourne. 

“Naomi Osaka has withdrawn from the Australian Open. We will miss her at #AO2023,” the tweet read.

The 25-year-old continues to slip in the rankings as she has dropped down to the 47th place. Osaka hasn’t played since September after withdrawing from the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo.

Osaka has won only one completed match since May last year and was also defeated in the first round of her last three tournaments. That includes the US Open at which she is also a two-time champion. 

Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska has now been promoted in Osaka’s place to play in the Australian Open.

Osaka took a mental health break last year after missing the French Open. Later, she went on to say that she had been struggling with anxiety and depression for several years. Her absence from the Australian Open now increases the uncertainty over her return to the court.

The Australian Openis is due to start of January 16 and it has already lost many notable names. Former finalist Simona Halep and Venus Williams aren’t participating this year as they are out with injuries. Men’s World number one has also pulled our of the competition with a knee injury.

The organisers are still recovering from the retirement of star players like Roger Federer and Serena Williams, and reigning champion Ashleigh Bartey. But they do have some relief from the participation of Novak Djokovic and Spanish star Rafael Nadal.