MELBOURNE: World number three Naomi Osaka and two-time major winner Victoria Azarenka pulled out of Australian Open warm-up tournaments Saturday, joining Serena Williams and Simona Halep with injury concerns.
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 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 night.
She joined Williams as a late…
