The Australian Open contenders Maria Sharapova and Simona Halep withdrew from the Brisbane International after suffering injuries less than two weeks before the first grand slam of the year.
Halep is suffering with inflammation in her left achilles, an injury that hampered her 2015 campaign, but was hopeful of being fit in time for next week’s event in Sydney.
Sharapova, the defending champion, is nursing an arm injury which meant a premature exit and no matches at her only tournament before the Melbourne slam which begins on 18 January.
“I hurt my forearm in practice a couple days ago and need to precautionary withdraw with the Aus Open starting,” Sharapova was quoted as saying by Brisbane tournament organisers.