After Serena Williams’ withdrawal, two more former Australian Open champions Naomi Osaka and Victoria Azarenka are saying that they are injured and unable to proceed with play at the WTA 500 tournaments leading up to the season’s first Grand Slam.
The world No.3 Osaka pulled out of the Gippsland Trophy ahead of her semifinal against Elise Mertens, citing an unspecified injury and assuring fans that she’ll be ready for the Australian Open:
Sorry to Tennis Australia and the fans to have to withdraw today.