World number three Naomi Osaka joined Serena Williams and Simona Halep with injury concerns ahead of the Australian Open Saturday as defend...
World number three Naomi Osaka joined Serena Williams and Simona Halep with injury concerns ahead of the Australian Open Saturday as defending champion Sofia Kenin blamed her groin strain on spending two weeks in coronavirus quarantine.
Japan’s Osaka, the US Open champion and 2019 Australian Open winner, was set to play Elise Mertens in the Gippsland Trophy semi-final but withdrew.
“Sorry to Tennis Australia and the fans to have to withdraw today,” she said on the WTA’s Twitter account.
“I have a niggling injury and in light of the AO (Australian Open) on the horizon I need to be cautious. I look forward to competing next week.”
Osaka had looked in fine form powering past Irina-Camelia Begu 7-5, 6-1 in 76 minutes on Friday.
She joined Williams as a late withdrawal after the American 23-time Grand Slam winner pulled out of her semi-final clash against world number one Ashleigh Barty with a shoulder problem Friday.
Williams, 39, had ousted fellow American Danielle Collins 6-2, 4-6, 10-6 in the Yarra Valley Classic but withdrew hours later, despite showing no ill effects during the match.
‘Completely sore’
Spanish world number two Rafael Nadal has also been struggling, with a lower back niggle again keeping him out of the ATP Cup on Saturday.
Two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka...
