Britain’s Emma Raducanu withdrew from a charity match on Tuesday that was part of her Australian Open build-up.
The 2021 US Open champion is set to make her Grand Slam return next week in Melbourne after missing much of 2023 following ankle and wrist surgeries.
She woke up a “little sore” after a two-hour practice session on Monday and chose to rest instead.
Earlier, original opponent Naomi Osaka pulled out and was replaced by Donna Vekic for the match at Melbourne Park.
The charity match – the first of four scheduled to take place in the lead-up to the start of the Australian Open on Sunday – was later cancelled.
World number two Carlos Alcaraz and Australian number one Alex de Minaur meet on Wednesday.
Players often pull out of these charity matches for the most minor of reasons – and Raducanu was inevitably going to be tired after matches and practice sessions having not played for nearly nine months.
The current world number 299, who has gained direct entry into this year’s Australian Open main draw, is scheduled to play 16-year-old Mirra Andreeva at the Kooyong Classic to the east of Melbourne on Thursday.
The draw for the Australian Open – Raducanu’s most recent major before having surgery – takes place that day.
