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| Location: Melbourne park Appointment: February 8-21 |
| Blanket: Listen on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra and online; Live text on selected matches on the BBC Sport website and app. |
Serena Williams says she is “super confident” that a right shoulder problem will be fine for the Australian Open.
The American was scheduled to face world number one Ashleigh Barty in the semifinals of the Yarra Valley Classic, but withdrew on Friday due to injury.
Williams will bid for a record-tying 24th Grand Slam title when the tournament begins on Monday.
“I feel pretty good. I’ve already had a lot of treatment on my shoulder,” said the 39-year-old.
US Open Champion Naomi Osaka, one of the favorites for the Melbourne title, and Victoria Azarenka also retired from their warm-up events with injuries.
Japan’s Osaka was due to face Belgium’s Elise Mertens in the Gippsland Trophy semi-final on Saturday, but withdrew, citing a long-standing shoulder problem.
“It had a bit of fun again because I played a lot of consecutive games,” Osaka said.
“My main goal is to hope that I can get enough rest before the Open.”
Azarenka, who lost to Osaka in the final in New York, withdrew from her Grampians Trophy quarterfinal with a lower back injury.
There are six WTA and ATP events going on in Melbourne Park to allow players to prepare after their mandatory quarantine in Australia.
Belarusian Azarenka only played one game after spending 14 days in her hotel room after positive coronavirus tests on his flight in the country.
As the third seed, she was given a first-round pass, before Thursday’s game was called off when a a hotel employee has tested positive for the virus.
Defending champion Sofia Kenin, who was left in tears following her loss to Garbine Muguruza in the last eight games of the Yarra Valley Classic, said the inability to train properly has affected her.
“After two games my leg is completely sore,” said the American.
“You can see that being in a room for two weeks, not playing, practicing, is not the same as playing a game clearly.
“Today is better and I want it to be better for the Open.”
In the matches that have taken place, Muguruza got a meeting with Barty after beating Marketa Vondrousova 6-1 6-0.
The Spaniard has lost just 10 games in her five appearances in Australia, but is 3-1 against favorite Barty.
In the Gippsland Trophy, the Belgian Mertens will play Kaia kanepi, who defeated Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-3 7-6 (7-8).
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