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Tennis: Osaka, Azarenka pull out of Australian Open warm-ups

Yarra Valley Classic
Tennis - Yarra Valley Classic - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, February 5, 2021 Japan's Naomi Osaka celebrates after winning her quarter final match against Romania's Irina-Camelia Begu REUTERS/Loren Elliott
(Updated: )

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MELBOURNE: Former Australian Open champions Naomi Osaka and Victoria Azarenka withdrew from their warm-up tournaments for the year's first Grand Slam on Saturday (Feb 6), citing injuries.

Osaka pulled out of her Gippsland Trophy semi-final with an unspecified "niggling injury" but said she looked forward to competing at the Australian Open which starts on Monday.

"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."

The Japanese player, who won at Melbourne Park in 2019, is among the top contenders for the year's first Grand Slam.

Osaka starts with a clash against former quarter-finalist Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.

Belgian Elise Mertens has a walkover to the final of the Gippsland Trophy.

French Open
FILE PHOTO: Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - September 27, 2020 Belarus' Victoria Azarenka in action during her first round match against Montenegro's Danka Kovinic. REUTERS/Christian Hartmann

Azarenka, who won back-to-back Australian Open titles in 2012 and 2013, withdrew from her Grampians Trophy quarter-final against Annett Kontaveit, giving the Estonian a walkover to the semi-finals.

The WTA said the Belarusian had a lower back problem.

The injuries are a further blow for organisers, coming a day after Serena Williams withdrew from her semi-final against world number one Ash Barty.

Third-seeded Osaka faces former quarter-finalist Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the first round of the Australian Open, while 12th seed Azarenka is scheduled to meet American Jessica Pegula.

Source: Reuters