Naomi Osaka continues to have a difficult start to the 2026 season after pulling out of yet another tournament.
Osaka came through drama with Sorana Cirstea to reach the third round of the Australian Open last month.
However, the former world number one has not played another match since then, with Osaka having withdrawn from her third round match at the Australian Open due to a recurring abdominal injury.
Since then, Osaka has also pulled out of the Qatar Open and she has now confirmed her absence from another tournament.
Naomi Osaka pulls out of her next WTA tournament
After withdrawing from the Qatar Open, Osaka was still entered into another WTA tournament in the Middle East.
This was at the Dubai Tennis Championships, but Osaka has now withdrawn from the WTA 1000 event.
Osaka will now not compete until March, when she is scheduled to return to tennis for the sunshine double of Indian Wells and the Miami Open.
With it currently unclear as to whether Osaka will be fit in time for Indian Wells, there are understandable concerns about the four-time Grand Slam champion.
These concerns should be slightly lessened regarding Osaka’s withdrawal from the Dubai Tennis Championships, as she has not played the tournament since 2019.
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Madison Keys leads other withdrawals from the Dubai Tennis Championships
Osaka is not the only player who has withdrawn from the Dubai Tennis Championships this year, with four other players also confirmed to be missing the event.
Madison Keys failed to win her Australian Open title last month, and has subsequently withdrawn from tournaments in Doha and Dubai.
This was somewhat expected from Keys, as she has not played in the Middle East swing since 2023.
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The three other confirmed withdrawals from the Dubai Tennis Championships appear to be more related to physical issues.
Former top 10 player Veronika Kudermetova announced that she underwent surgery at the end of last year, and so is expected to miss the foreseeable tournaments.
The two other withdrawals from the Dubai Tennis Championships are Eva Lys and Marta Kostyuk, who have both suffered injuries at the start of the 2026 season.
Lys suffered a knee injury at the United Cup, which hampered her in her first round defeat at the Australian Open.
Whereas Kostyuk tore a ligament after rolling her ankle in her first round match at the Australian Open.
It is unclear as to how many more withdrawals there will be from the Dubai Tennis Championships, with there still being uncertainty over the likes of Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula.
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