Former US Open champion Emma Raducanu pulled out of the Auckland Classic on Tuesday with a “back niggle” in a blow to her Australian Open preparations.
Britain’s Raducanu will now fly to Melbourne to begin rehabilitation ahead of the year’s first major starting on January 12.
The 22-year-old has suffered a series of injuries since bursting onto the scene with her New York triumph in 2021.
“I’ve tried my best to be ready. I love Auckland and the fans here,” the 56th -ranked Raducanu said. “But unfortunately I’ve picked up a back niggle and I won’t be ready in time.”
Raducanu is travelling with renowned fitness coach Yutaka Nakamura in an attempt to better withstand the rigours of professional tennis.
Raducanu missed a chunk of 2023 following wrist and ankle surgery, and was recently side-lined for two months by a foot injury.
Former Australian Open semi-finalist Elise Mertens also withdrew hours before the second seed’s first-round match in Auckland.
The tournament has been shorn of four of its eight seeds in the first round.
