Speculation has arisen among tennis enthusiasts that Naomi Osaka’s exit from the Australian tournament was prompted by her inability to endure public scrutiny regarding her fashion choices and a recent altercation with an opponent. The Japanese athlete withdrew, citing an injury, leaving some fans questioning her true motives.

Osaka’s unexpected announcement came shortly before her scheduled night match against Australia’s Maddison Inglis at the Rod Laver Arena. She attributed her withdrawal to an abdominal issue that required immediate attention.

In a heartfelt message on her Instagram story, the 28-year-old expressed, “I’ve had to make the difficult decision to withdraw to address something my body needs attention for after my last match.” She added her appreciation for the outpouring of support, saying, “Thanks for all the love and support … I’m so grateful everyone embraced me so much.”

Nonetheless, a number of fans are convinced that this recent withdrawal is part of a recurring pattern where Osaka exits tournaments following criticism of her actions. Her bold fashion choices last week garnered mixed reactions, and her recent confrontation with Sorana Cirstea only added to the controversy surrounding her.

However, many tennis fans believe Osaka’s withdrawal follows what they see as a pattern in which she pulls out of tournaments after being criticised for her behaviour.

Naomi Osaka (pictured) has pulled out of the Australian Open due to an abdominal injury – but many fans believe that’s not the real reason she withdrew from the tournament

Osaka is pictured during a fiery post-match clash with Sorana Cirstea, who blasted the Japanese star for her behaviour during their second-round clash

Scores of fans agreed with this take on X, claiming Osaka quit the Open because she couldn’t deal with criticism of the Cirstea incident and her stunning fashion display in the first round

The 28-year-old had divided fans with her stunning fashion statement last week, and was at the centre of controversy in her last match when she clashed with Sorana Cirstea.

Cirstea accused Osaka of engaging in unfair play by repeatedly shouting ‘c’mon!’ when she missed her first serve, and the pair clashed at the net after match point.

Osaka later apologised for ‘disrespectful’ comments she made about Cirstea in her post-match interview.

‘Osaka is extremely sensitive, I think the blowback from the incident vs Cirstea broke her mentally and she did not want to face possible AO booing her. So she surrendered and escaped with a phantom injury,’ one fan wrote on X, with dozens of commenters agreeing.

‘The last time she withdrew from a tournament, there was drama right before … Thrashed on social media. There was also drama right before this upcoming match. Thrashed again on social media & many trashed her jellyfish bee-keeper costume. That’s the REAL pattern… it’s not a physical “injury”. She can’t process the social negatives. Hence, a w/d because her head is not in the game. Mental WEAKNESS,’ another wrote.

‘She is a terrible sport. Rewind to her final in Canada last year against Victoria Mboko. She knows she acted poorly against Cirstea, and she’s too weak to face the boos she knew would be coming in her next match. Pitiful,’ added a third.

‘[Osaka quit] Probably because that lady called her out for yelling during her serves and her feelings got hurt,’ another commenter wrote. 

‘Everyone knows this, to be fair. Its reaaaaallly hard to deal w the consequences of your actions,’ another fan said.

Pictured: Osaka wearing the amazing outfit that divided fans at Melbourne Park

Pictured: One of many examples of fans alleging that Osaka has a pattern of quitting tournaments after coming in for criticism over her behaviour

Novak Djokovic’s wife Jelena had slammed Osaka over her tactics in the match against Cirstea.  

‘Hm, I’m surprised that this is not being called hindrance,’ Djokovic wrote on social media. 

‘In between two serves, when crowds are applauding or shouting, the chair ump asks not to shout between serves as it is disturbing to the player.’

‘The point is not finished. Sorana missed her first serve and is focusing on getting in the second, it is a slight pause. And it is disrespectful to applaud at someone’s first serve mistake too.’

Osaka later said she played against Cirstea with ‘some pain’.

‘It’s an injury I’ve had a couple of times before, and I thought I could push through it,’ she said.

‘I thought maybe if I gave myself a break, I would be able to handle it, but I warmed up, and it got a lot worse.

‘I definitely have to do more tests, and coming back from pregnancy, my body changed quite a lot.

‘So this is something I have to be really cautious of.’

It is the second straight year the 28-year-old has withdrawn at Melbourne Park in the third round following her 2025 retirement against Belinda Bencic after one set.

Inglis, in her first major in four years, is through to the round of 16 for the first time, and joins Alex de Minaur as the only other Australians left in the singles tournament.

The Perth product will face world No.2 Iga Swiatek on Monday after the six-time major winner accounted for Russian Anna Kalinskaya 6-1 1-6 6-1.

‘I haven’t watched (Inglis’s matches) but I saw from the scores … she likes playing here as well,’ Swiatek said of her Australian opponent.

‘It’s exciting to be in a fourth round again.

‘Hopefully you’re not going to be so harsh on me, playing an Australian.

‘A lot of Polish flags here, so please make it even.’

One of two qualifiers to reach the last 32, Inglis spent 13 hours and 24 gruelling minutes over 14 sets to advance to the third round.

But with Osaka’s withdrawal she avoided the oppressive heat in Melbourne on Saturday night.

World No.168 Inglis is guaranteed $480,000 by advancing to the fourth round.

That figure dwarfs the previous best year of prize money in her career, just 24 days into 2026.

‘It’s honestly unbelievable. It’s like a dream,’ Inglis told Nine on Saturday night.

‘That money is life changing.

‘When I saw that first round qualifying was $40,000, I thought that’s amazing.

‘It was super unfortunate for (Osaka), I’m still a little bit in shock … hopefully she’s OK and recovers quickly.’

Inglis has moved to 113 in the WTA live rankings, just one spot off her career high which was in March 2020.