Angelique Kerber in danger of missing of the Australian Open after Adelaide retirement
The Australian Open is at risk of losing another big name in the women’s draw after Angelique Kerber was forced to retire with a back injury in Adelaide.
Kerber was trailing 3-6 0-2 to Ukrainian teenager, Dayana Yastremska, before calling on the trainer and eventually retiring.
It follows US Open champion, Bianca Andreescu, pulling out of the Australian Open last week due to a knee injury which she suffered at the WTA Finals in October.
Following her victory, Yastremska said: “In the beginning, I wasn’t really comfortable on the court because there was a lot of wind. Then I tried to fix the game by being really stable, and not taking really big risks. Point by point I could get there.”
Despite the lopsided scoreline, Yastremska did not think Kerber was playing badly. “I couldn’t notice from the beginning that [Kerber] was injured because she played really well. I hope she can recover well before the Australian Open,” said the world number 24.
Kerber’s injury only adds to the setbacks she has had of late. The German has not reached the final of a tournament since the Eastbourne International in June and she fell to Australia’s Samantha Stosur in the first round of Brisbane last week.
However, the 31-year-old is a three-time grand slam champion and won the 2016 Australian Open. Kerber has shown the ability to find her best tennis at major events and will be considered a contender in Melbourne if she can recover.
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