Japan’s Naomi Osaka withdrew on Saturday, ahead of her semi-final match in a preparatory event for the Australian Open, allowing Russian Veronika Kudermetova to reach the final of one of the two women’s tournaments presented at Melbourne this week.
In a statement from Tennis Australia, Osaka explained that she suffered an abdominal injury and needed to rest and prepare for the Australian Open, of which she is the defending champion in simple.
Later on Twitter, Osaka clarified that her body suffered a shock after participating in two consecutive high-intensity games after the break she gave herself.
The Australian Open will start on Monday, January 17.
In Sunday’s final, Kudermetova will face Romania’s Simona Halep, who knocked out China’s Zheng Qinwen 6-3, 6-2 in the other semi-final.
In the other preparatory women’s tournament held in Melbourne, American Amanda Anisimova qualified for her first final since 2019 with a 6-2, 6-0 victory over Russia’s Daria Kasatkina.
On Sunday, she will face Belarusian Aliaksandra Sasnovich, who defeated American Ann Li 7-6 (4), 2-6, 6-3. Meanwhile, in Adelaide, Australia’s Ashleigh Barty, number one in the WTA standings, earned her place in the final with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Poland’s Iga Swiatek. Her rival will be Kazakhe Elena Rybakina, who beat Japan’s Misaki Doi 6-4, 6-3.
On the men’s side, Spain’s Rafael Nadal hailed his return to competition by advancing to the final of the Melbourne tournament following a 6-4, 7-5 victory over Finland’s Emil Ruusuvuori. In the final, he will find the American Maxime Cressy who surprised the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov 7-5, 7-6 (9).
In addition, the final of the Adelaide tournament will see the French Gaël Monfils battle against the Russian Karen Khachanov. In the semifinals, Monfils defeated Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis 7-5, 6-0 while Khachanov defeated Croatian Marin Cilic 7-6 (3), 6-3.