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Naomi Osaka continues break from tennis and withdraws from Wimbledon

Naomi Osaka has withdrawn from next month's Wimbledon tennis championships.  The world no.2 is c...



Naomi Osaka continues break fr...
Other Sports

Naomi Osaka continues break from tennis and withdraws from Wimbledon

Naomi Osaka has withdrawn from next month's Wimbledon tennis championships. 

The world no.2 is continuing her break from the sport, but has vowed to return in time for the Olympic Games in Tokyo.

Osaka withdrew from the French Open after her first round win over Patricia Maria Tig. She had wanted to skip press conferences at Roland-Garros.

When Grand Slam organisers fined her $15,000 and threatened her with expulsion, the 23-year old pulled out of the competition revealing a three-year battle with depression.

On Thursday evening, a statement read: "Naomi won’t be playing Wimbledon this year.

"She is taking some personal time with friends and family. She will be ready for the Olympics and is excited to play in front of her home fans."

Osaka is the latest big-name withdrawal from Wimbledon.

Men's world no.3 Rafa Nadal confirmed he won't be at SW19, or the Tokyo Olympics.

The 20-time Grand Slam champion said, "The goal is to prolong my career, to do what makes me happy, that is to compete at the highest level and to keep fighting for my professional and personal goals at the maximum level of competition.

"The fact that there has only been two weeks between Roland Garros and Wimbledon did not make it easier on my body to recuperate after the always demanding clay-court season.

"They have been two months of great effort and the decision I take is focused on looking at the mid-term to long-term."

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2020 Olympic Games Depression French Open Mental Health Naomi Osaka Olympic Games Roland Garros Tokyo Olympics Wimbledon