Naomi Osaka makes Charleston Open decision after terrible Miami Open loss

Naomi Osaka has decided to skip the Charleston Open after her disappointing Miami Open exit, with the former world number one now planning a reduced clay-court schedule instead.

Osaka’s latest defeat continued a difficult start to 2026 and has clearly shaped how she wants to manage the next phase of the season.

That makes Charleston the first clay event she is prepared to leave out as she looks further ahead.

Naomi Osaka Charleston Open decision after Miami loss

A Guardian report revealed the decision as Naomi Osaka confirmed she will not begin her clay season in Charleston after her Miami Open defeat.

“I’m not going to play Charleston from 28th March. I hope I can play Madrid, Rome, and then obviously the French Open,” Osaka confirmed.

That points to a shortened clay swing rather than a full build-up, with Osaka appearing more focused on timing and condition than forcing matches into her schedule.

It also fits the wider uncertainty she expressed after Miami, where her form and long-term direction both came under scrutiny.

Naomi Osaka’s Miami Open performance raises fresh concern

Naomi Osaka’s Miami Open run ended immediately after her first-round bye, with the 16th seed losing 7-5, 6-4 to Australian qualifier Talia Gibson in her opening match of the tournament.

The defeat was notable not just for the scoreline, but for the level of the opponent and the stage of the event, with Gibson arriving as a qualifier and moving on to the round of 32.

Coming after earlier inconsistency this season, the Miami defeat added to the sense that Osaka still has not found a stable rhythm in 2026.

Against that backdrop, skipping Charleston looks less like a sudden reaction and more like a reset before Madrid, Rome, and the French Open.

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