Melbourne (AFP)
Japan's world number three Naomi Osaka and Belarusian Victoria Azarenka withdrew with injury Saturday in Melbourne from preliminary tournaments for the Australian Open.
These withdrawals are in addition to those of Serena Williams and Simona Halep.
The Japanese player, who won the last US Open and the 2019 Australian Open, was due to meet Belgium's Elise Mertens in the Gippsland Trophy semi-finals but withdrew.
"Sorry for Tennis Australia and the fans for having to pull me out today," Osaka wrote on the WTA Twitter account.
"I have a nagging injury and with the prospect of the Australian Open on the horizon I have to be careful. I can't wait to compete next week," she added.
The Australian Open is scheduled to start on Monday.
On Friday night, Naomi Osaka appeared in good shape in her match against Romania's Irina-Camelia Begu, whom she easily beat 7-5, 6-1 in 76 minutes.
Serena Williams, for her part, had withdrawn Friday night during her semi-final against world number one Ashleigh Barty.
Williams previously knocked out fellow American Danielle Collins 6-2, 4-6, 10-6 in the Yarra Valley Classic, but withdrew a few hours later although she did not appear to be in pain during the game.
Azarenka, who has won the Australian Open twice, has decided not to play his quarter-final with Anett Kontaveit in the Grampian Trophy due to a back injury.
Mertens will meet Ekaterina Alexandrova or Kaia Kanepi in the Gippsland Trophy final, while Barty will face in the decisive Yarra Valley Classic match against Garbine Muguruza or Marketa Vondrousova.
While Williams and Osaka's forfeits appear to be precautionary measures, he may have more concern for Simona Halep's form.
The world number two was outscored 6-2, 6-1 by Alexandrova in the Gippsland Trophy quarter-finals, where she appeared hampered by a back injury.
The Romanian wore a back brace after seeking medical attention in the first set.
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