Naomi Osaka withdraws from the Auckland WTA event to play for Japan at the United Cup

Naomi Osaka has withdrawn from the ASB Classic successful Auckland, New Zealand, successful January to alternatively play for Japan successful the United Cup. The four-time large victor had agreed successful September to commencement her 2026 play successful Auckland, wherever she reached the last earlier this year.

She contacted Auckland tourney manager Nicolas Lamperin to accidental she had changed her caput and would alternatively statesman her mentation for the Australian Open successful Australia.

Former No. 1-ranked Osaka volition harvester with Shintaro Mochizuki successful the Japan squad for the January 2-11 United Cup successful Perth. Japan is drawn to play Britain and Greece successful radical play.

The Australian Open, the archetypal tennis Grand Slam lawsuit of the year, starts connected January 18 astatine Melbourne Park.