Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova has pulled out of the Australian Open with a back injury, while concerns mount for tennis stars Naomi Osaka and Iga Swiatek.
The Czech world No.10 first sustained the injury during last year’s Asian swing and seemed hindered at the season-ending WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia in November.
‘I wanted to share a quick update regarding my withdrawal from the Australian Open,’ Krejcikova posted on X.
‘Unfortunately, my back injury, which troubled me at the end of last season, is still not fully healed.
‘It’s disappointing because I love playing in Melbourne and have such great memories from reaching the quarter-finals last year … I’m working hard to get back to full health.
‘I can’t wait to see you on the court soon.’
Wimbledon champ Barbora Krejcikova has withdrawn from the Australian Open
The Czech world No.10 says she still hasn’t recovered from a back injury
Two-time Open champion Naomi Osaka is also in doubt after pulling out of Sunday’s Auckland Classic final with an abdominal strain.
Osaka had just won the first set against Clara Tauson before quitting in obvious distress.
She later released a statement on Instagram, posting: ‘I’ve come to the conclusion that what’s meant for me is meant for me and maybe certain situations occur to train my mind for what’s to come.
‘Maybe there’s bigger and better things on my path and I just have to continue the journey to encounter them…’
Meanwhile, Iga Swiatek has dispelled fears she may not be fit for the Australian Open, the world No.2 declaring herself on track for the season-opening grand slam in Melbourne.
Swiatek appeared to be in tears when she left the court after Sunday night’s United Cup final loss to Coco Gauff, having needed a medical time-out late in the 6-4 6-4 defeat.
The five-time grand slam champion admitted she’d needed treatment for a different issue to the left thigh problem that required taping in Poland’s semi-final win over Kazakhstan.
Swiatek, though, insisted there was no major concern and that she’d merely been suffering from wear and tear after a gruelling workload of five singles matches and two mixed doubles in the space of seven days.
Naomi Osaka was in tears after suffering an abdominal injury while playing the final of a WTA tournament in Auckland
Iga Swiatek has dispelled fears she may not be fit for the Australian Open after needing a medical timeout during her match
‘For sure, I wasn’t fresh today, but I’ll be good,’ she said.
‘Nothing happened really, like I was just tired.’
Swiatek hadn’t played an official match in seven weeks since serving a one-month doping ban after the WTA Finals in early November.
‘At the beginning of the tournament especially has been pretty big but, honestly, it’s all good.
‘I’m for sure happy because I played some heavy hitters as well this week, and also some girls that played topspin, and I was able to against both (styles) really great tennis.
‘Today I wasn’t able to give 100 per cent. Coco also played amazing and she’s, for sure, improving.
‘But I’m really happy with the week and I feel like the things I worked on really improved.
‘But, on the other hand, this week before the Australian Open is a different story so I’m going to do everything step by step and continue the work that I’ve been doing.’
Swiatek will be the women’s second seed at the Australian Open ahead of Coco Gauff
Swiatek will be the women’s second seed ahead of Gauff, despite Gauff leading Team USA to United Cup glory with an undefeated campaign in Perth and Sydney.
Defending champ Jannik Sinner will top the men’s draw, with Australia’s great hope Alex de Minaur climbing one spot in the rankings to No.8 after winning both his United Cup matches to nab an all-important top-eight seeding.
De Minaur is guaranteed not to run into a higher-ranked rival like Sinner, third seed Carlos Alcaraz or 10-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic until at least the quarter-finals.
