Rare double walkover strikes Adelaide semis

Last-gasp injury pullouts from ninth seed Paula Badosa and Veronika Kudermetova left the Adelaide International with nothing to show on semi-finals day on the WTA side of the draw.

Spain’s Badosa cited a right thigh injury while Kudermetova was bothered by a left hip complaint.

The pair of no-shows left Swiss Belinda Bencic and Daria Kasatkina to contest the Saturday final at Memorial Drive.

Badosa said her pullout was aimed at saving her Australian Open chances, with the first major of the season starting on Monday at Melbourne Park.

“I’m really disappointed that I had to withdraw today because I was really looking forward to the match,” she said.

“Yesterday against (Beatriz Haddad) was a very tough match, especially physical. I felt it a little bit in my abductor. I felt like I pulled it a little bit.

“Today I felt a bit worse.. I have the Australian Open ahead, and I hope I can recover for that.”

Kasatkina leads Olympic champion Bencic 3-2, defeating the Swiss in their last meeting at Roland Garros two years ago.

Bencic, however, earned an Adelaide victory in the series in the 2020 first round, reaching the final and losing to Ash Barty.