Naomi Osaka, Victoria Azarenka pull out Australian Open warm-ups with injury | Tennis News – Times of India
MELBOURNE: World quantity three Naomi Osaka and two-time main winner Victoria Azarenka pulled out of Australian Open heat-up tournaments Saturday, becoming a member of Serena Williams and Simona Halep with injury considerations.
Japan’s Osaka, the US Open champion and 2019 Australian Open winner, was set to play Elise Mertens within the Gippsland Trophy semi-ultimate however withdrew.
“Sorry to Tennis Australia and the fans to have to withdraw today,” she stated on the WTA’s Twitter account.
“I have a niggling injury and in light of the AO on the horizon I need to be cautious. I look forward to competing next week.”
Osaka had seemed in high quality type powering previous Irina-Camelia Begu 7-5, 6-1 in 76 minutes on Friday evening.
She joined Williams as a late withdrawal after the American pulled out of her semi-ultimate conflict in opposition to world primary Ashleigh Barty with a shoulder injury Friday.
Williams, 39, had ousted fellow American Danielle Collins 6-2, 4-6, 10-6 within the Yarra Valley Classic however withdrew hours later regardless of exhibiting no unwell results through the match.
Two-time Australian Open champion Azarenka was additionally a casualty Saturday, opting to not play her quarter-ultimate conflict with Anett Kontaveit on the Grampians Trophy as a consequence of a decrease-again injury.
Mertens will play Ekaterina Alexandrova or Kaia Kanepi within the Gippsland Trophy ultimate whereas Barty faces two-time Grand Slam champion Garbine Muguruza or Marketa Vondrousova within the Yarra Valley Classic decider.
While Williams and Osaka’s withdrawals seem precautionary, there is perhaps extra concern over Halep’s health.
The world quantity two was thrashed by Alexandrova 6-2, 6-1 within the Gippsland Trophy quarter-finals, the place she appeared hampered by a decrease-again injury.
Halep strapped on a again brace after calling for medical consideration after the primary set, in a lopsided contest lasting only one hour.
