The first month of the WTA Tour season is barely coming to an end, and with the conclusion of the Australian Open, players are already thinking about their next steps on Tour. The first major of the year – which will crown a new champion this Saturday between Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina – has left several injury-related withdrawals in the middle of the tournament.
A couple of injuries have already been recorded that will take some time to recover from and are generating the first withdrawals for the Qatar Open in Doha – the first WTA 1000 of the season, set to be played starting on February 9. These involve four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka and world No. 23 Marta Kostyuk.
Both players were ruled out despite being included in the tournament’s initial entry list. In the case of the former world No. 1, she was forced to withdraw before her third-round clash against Madison Inglis. Osaka was in good form, having secured three-set victories over Antonia Ruzic and Sorana Cirstea – the latter marked by controversy due to Osaka’s on-court comments and the visible frustration of the Romanian, which became evident during a tense handshake.
Hours after defeating Cirstea, Osaka announced her withdrawal from the tournament due to an abdominal injury. “It’s an injury I’ve had a couple of times before, and I thought I could push through it,” the two-time Australian Open champion said. “I played my last match with some pain, and I thought maybe if I gave myself a break before my match today, I would be able to handle it. But I warmed up, and it got a lot worse.”
The Japanese player revealed that she will have to undergo further tests to determine the severity of the injury, and for now it is certain that she will be sidelined for at least a couple of weeks. “I definitely have to do more tests, and obviously I think coming back from pregnancy, my body changed quite a lot. So this is something I have to be really cautious of.”
Despite this, Osaka remains confirmed for the WTA 1000 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships – which will be played starting on February 16 – although she has not yet confirmed whether she will be ready to compete in Dubai, or if she will ultimately skip the Middle East swing, where she is not defending any points after missing the same stretch back in 2025.
Kostyuk also sidelined early as ankle injury rules her out of Doha
Another player already suffering early-season injury issues is Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk, the current world No. 23, who picked up an injury in her first match of the Australian Open. The Ukrainian managed to battle for more than three and a half hours against Elsa Jacquemot – a match she lost in three tie-break sets – but shortly afterward withdrew from the doubles event, where she was set to partner Elena-Gabriela Ruse.
Shortly after, Kostyuk appeared on social media revealing that she would be out for some time due to a torn ligament in her ankle following an on-court fall. She posted photos wearing an orthopedic boot while continuing her recovery. “After getting injured on court, these days are all about patience. I started an intensive recovery process yesterday, and I’ll take you along as I work my way back,” she wrote in an Instagram post.
The 24-year-old had started the season with a notable run in Brisbane, defeating three top-10 players on her way to the final (Anisimova, Andreeva and Pegula). However, injuries will keep her away from the courts for several weeks, causing her to miss Qatar, a tournament where she was defending quarterfinal points.
Kostyuk is preparing to once again lose ranking points, and her absence in Doha will cost her additional points in the rankings – potentially dropping her several positions, depending on the results we see there. For now, Kostyuk is expected to return at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, where she remains listed in the entry list.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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