Naomi Osaka of Japan plays a forehand during the singles match against Andrea Petkovic of Germany, at Summer Set tennis tournament ahead of the Australian Open in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Jan. 7, 2022. (AP Photo/Hamish Blair)
The Associated Press
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) - Defending Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka withdrew from her semifinal match Saturday at a WTA tournament with an abdominal injury, allowing her opponent Veronika Kudermetova to advance to the final on a walkover.
'œI 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.
'œSad to withdraw due to injury from my match today, my body got a shock from playing back to back intense matches after the break I took," Osaka added later on Twitter. 'œI'll try to rest up and I'll see you soon!"
The Australian Open begins on Jan. 17.
Kudermetova on Sunday will face second-seeded Simona Halep, who beat Zheng Qinwen 6-3, 6-2 in the other semifinal Saturday in the Summer Set 1 event.
At the Adelaide International, Wimbledon champion and top-ranked Ash Barty beat former French Open winner Iga Swiatek 6-2, 6-4. In Sunday's final, Barty will play Elena Rybakina, who beat Misaki Doi 6-4, 6-3.
American Amanda Anisimova advanced to her first final since 2019 with a 6-2, 6-0 win over Daria Kasatkina in the Summer Set 2 event at Rod Laver Arena. Anisimova will play Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus, who beat Ann Li 7-6 (4), 2-6, 6-3.
In the semifinals of an ATP tournament at Melbourne Park, Rafael Nadal beat Finland's Emil Ruusuvuori 6-4, 7-5. In Sunday's final, Nadal will face American Maxime Cressy, who beat Grigor Dimitrov 7-5, 7-6 (9).
The Adelaide and Melbourne tournaments are among six tune-up events being staged in Australia this week ahead of the season-opening major at Melbourne Park.
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Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts during their singles match against Emil Ruusuvuori of Finland at Summer Set tennis tournament ahead of the Australian Open in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022. (AP Photo/Hamish Blair)
The Associated Press
FILE - Ashleigh Barty, of Australia, returns a shot to Jil Teichmann, of Switzerland, in the women's single final of the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament, Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021, in Mason, Ohio. Top-ranked Barty had a tough opener to her 2022 season, having to rally from a set and a break down to beat 17-year-old American Coco Gauff 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 on Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022, in the second round of the Adelaide International.(AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)
The Associated Press
Rafael Nadal of Spain plays a forehand during his singles match against Ricardas Berankis of Lithuania at Summer Set tennis tournament ahead of the Australian Open in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022. (AP Photo/Hamish Blair)
The Associated Press
Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus plays a backhand during her singles match against Ann Li of the United States at Summer Set tennis tournament ahead of the Australian Open in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022. (AP Photo/Hamish Blair)
The Associated Press
Ann Li of the United States plays a backhand during her singles match against Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus at Summer Set tennis tournament ahead of the Australian Open in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022. (AP Photo/Hamish Blair)
The Associated Press
Ann Li of the United States plays a forehand during her singles match against Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus at Summer Set tennis tournament ahead of the Australian Open in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022. (AP Photo/Hamish Blair)
The Associated Press
Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts during their singles match against Emil Ruusuvuori of Finland at Summer Set tennis tournament ahead of the Australian Open in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022. (AP Photo/Hamish Blair)
The Associated Press
Emil Ruusuvuori of Finland plays a forehand during their singles match against Rafael Nadal of Spain at Summer Set tennis tournament ahead of the Australian Open in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022. (AP Photo/Hamish Blair)
The Associated Press