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The Australian Open looks poised to be stripped of another blockbuster drawcard as officials try desperately to determine the playing status, and whereabouts, of two-time champion Naomi Osaka.
The Japanese ace remains on the official Australian Open entry list, but she hasn’t played since Tokyo’s Pan Pacific Open in September and isn’t down to compete in Adelaide or Hobart next week.
She was tagged in a photo from a pilates studio in Los Angeles, but Tennis Australia officials are unable to confirm where she is.
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Osaka took a mental health break after skipping the Roland-Garros tournament of 2021, before revealing she’d been battling depression and anxiety for several years.
She pulled out during the second round of the Pan Pacific Open due to abdominal pain and has won only two of her last nine matches.
Osaka conquered the Australian Open in 2019 and 2021, and the US Open in 2018 and 2020.
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‘Lot of chaos’ in Osaka’s head
This year’s Australian Open entry list is already missing reigning champion Ash Barty, seven-time winner Serena Williams and six-time winner Roger Federer, all of whom have retired in the last 12 months.
After being deported on the cusp of last year’s Australian Open, Novak Djokovic is back in the country and hunting a record-extending 10th title in Melbourne.
Buoyed by reaching the 2022 Wimbledon final and the last eight at the US Open, Nick Kyrgios is gunning for his maiden grand slam title.
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