Naomi Osaka’s bombshell decision to pull out of the Australian Open due to injury has gifted local talent Maddison Inglis a $480,000 payday.
The Japanese star withdrew from the tournament just hours before she was due to face Inglis on Saturday, guaranteeing Inglis the biggest prize money haul of her career even if she loses her next match to Iga Swiatek.
‘The points, the money, the experience, the fans, the courts that I’m getting to play on is honestly unbelievable,’ Inglis said after the news broke.
Swiatek said she planned some last-minute study of Inglis’s game to hopefully avoid suffering a Melbourne Park ambush at the hands of the Australian qualifier.
The second-seeded Swiatek had been expecting to face two-time champion Osaka for a place in the quarter-finals on Monday.
Instead, Inglis will now be the reigning Wimbledon champion’s surprise fourth-round opponent.
Maddison Inglis is pictured celebrating after winning her second-round clash at the Australian Open on Thursday
Aussie qualifier Inglis (pictured) now has more to be happy about after Naomi Osaka’s withdrawal through injury guaranteed her a $480,000 payday
Osaka (pictured) sent shockwaves through the tournament when she dropped the injury bombshell just before she was due to play Inglis
After saving a match point in the first round of qualifying, Inglis is the first Australian to reach the women’s last 16 in Melbourne since the great Ash Barty won the trophy in 2022.
‘I’m still in shock,’ the 28-year-old West Australian said.
Swiatek beat Inglis 6-1 6-3 in their only previous encounter, in Adelaide five years ago.
Little wonder why the six-time major winner is taking little comfort from that victory way back when.
‘I remember we played, but I don’t remember how the match looked like. I thought it was more recent, honestly,’ Swiatek said.
‘So, for sure, I need to prepare tactically and will watch maybe a little bit as well because it’s not often I play someone I don’t really know that much, that well.
‘She has had a great run. She didn’t play (yesterday) so she’s going to be fresh. I’ve got to go for it.’
The careers of Swiatek and Inglis are, quite literally, poles apart.
Inglis will now face world No.2 Iga Swiatek (pictured) in the last 16
It’s been five years since Swiatek played Inglis (pictured) and the Polish star has admitted she needs to study the Aussie’s game
While Swiatek needs an Australian Open crown to complete a career grand slam, Inglis is playing her first main-draw at a major in four years.
After starting the tournament as the world No.168, Inglis is up to 113th in the live rankings.
‘That’s massive,’ she told Nine.
‘It’s not something I was thinking about even a week ago.
‘Someone told me I am close to my career high and I’m not done yet, we’ll see what I can finish this tournament at.
‘To start the year like this, I couldn’t be happier, I’m excited.’
Should her dreamy run continue with a victory over Swiatek, Inglis would play either fifth-seeded former Open finalist Elena Rybakina or world No.21 Elise Mertens in the quarter-finals.
