Defending Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka has withdrawn from her semifinal match at the WTA event in Melbourne with an abdominal injury.
Opponent Veronika Kudermetova has advanced to the final on a walkover.
“I had a lot of fun playing here in Melbourne. Unfortunately I have an abdominal injury which I need to rest and prepare for the Australian Open,” Osaka said in a statement issued by Tennis Australia.
Osaka then added her “body got a shock from playing back to back intense matches after the break I took” but said she would “try to rest up and I’ll see (the fans) soon!”
The Australian Open begins on January 17.
Earlier in the day American Amanda Anisimova moved to her first final since 2019 with a 6-2, 6-0 win over Daria Kasatkina in the WTA’s Summer Set 2 event.
Anisimova will play either fellow American Ann Li or Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus in the final.
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