Naomi Osaka pulls out of Dubai WTA 1000 after persistent injury from Australian Open

Naomi Osaka’s early-season difficulties have continued, with the 4-time Grand Slam star confirming that she will not compete at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, while concerns about her physical condition continue.

The withdrawal follows an already disrupted start to 2026, during which Osaka advanced to the third round of the Australian Open after a narrow win over Sorana Cirstea. However, she was forced to retire from that match due to a recurring abdominal injury, which has prevented her from appearing in any subsequent tournaments.

After pulling out of the Qatar Open, Osaka had initially remained on the entry list for Dubai, a WTA 1000 event and the second big stop in the Middle East. Now, she has officially withdrawn, confirming that her earliest return to competitive tennis is likely to be at Indian Wells in March, with the Miami Open also on her schedule. Fitness questions remain, leaving uncertainty about her readiness for the North American hard-court swing.

While Osaka’s absence is notable, it is worth emphasizing that she has not competed in Dubai since 2019. Her withdrawal, therefore, may not carry the same implications as missing a tournament she routinely attends. Still, her extended break marks a significant gap in match play and ranking point opportunities during the first quarter of the season.

The Japanese star has skipped several tournaments in the Middle East swing and in fact only has two participations in Qatar (2018, 2024) and two in Dubai (2017, 2019). In Dubai, she has never gone past the second round in her two appearances, a period of the year when she has often preferred to preserve her fitness in order to focus on the Sunshine Double challenges.

The Japanese star’s start to the year has been cautious, dictated primarily by injury recovery. Her abdominal issue, which forced her out of the Australian Open third round, remains unresolved, influencing decisions to skip both Qatar and now Dubai. From a rankings perspective, the extended absence may affect her seeding in upcoming WTA 1000 events, although her previous performances, including deep runs in 2025, provide a buffer.

With a planned return at Indian Wells and Miami, Osaka will face a condensed schedule. The limited match play raises concerns over her ability to adapt to competitive intensity quickly, particularly in high-stakes rounds. At the moment, Osaka appears as world No. 15 in the live rankings, but her absence in the Middle East makes it likely that she will drop a few positions before returning to the courts in March—if she is fully fit.

The strategy of the former world No. 1 appears to prioritize recovery over early-season points. Given the demands of back-to-back WTA 1000 events, the decision reflects an emphasis on long-term readiness, a common approach for players managing recurring injuries. She is not the only one to opt out of the Middle East tournaments, even at the cost of financial penalties or lost ranking points for skipping mandatory events.

Osaka is not the only high-profile absentee at the Dubai Tennis Championships. Madison Keys, who lost early while defending her Australian Open title, has also withdrawn from both Doha and Dubai. Keys’ absence is less surprising, as she has historically avoided the Middle East swing since 2023.

Other withdrawals appear injury-related. Veronika Kudermetova, recovering from late-2025 surgery, remains sidelined, while Eva Lys and Marta Kostyuk both exited the early 2026 season due to injuries. Lys suffered a knee issue during the United Cup that carried into the Australian Open, whereas Kostyuk tore a ligament after rolling her ankle in Melbourne’s first round. Added to them is the French player Loïs Boisson, who already missed the first two months of competition and has yet to debut this season.

The defending champion in Dubai is Russian Mirra Andreeva, who won back-to-back titles in Dubai and Indian Wells a year ago. In the Dubai final, she defeated Danish player Clara Tauson, another player who will have significant ambitions—and obligations—during her trip to Dubai.