Raducanu pulls out of Melbourne event; Venus to miss Oz Open

Emma Raducanu. Pic/AFP

US Open champion Emma Raducanu on Saturday pulled out of an Australian Open warm-up tournament next week as she continues to recover from COVID-19. Raducanu, 19, was due to line up alongside defending Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka and former World No.1 one Simona Halep at the Melbourne Summer Set WTA event from Tuesday.

But after practicing at Melbourne Park on Saturday she opted out, having tested positive for COVID-19 before an Abu Dhabi exhibition last month and then spent time in isolation. "The timing to compete in the first Melbourne event this week is too soon for me, having just returned from isolation," she said in a brief statement. "Look forward to seeing you to compete later this month."

Meanwhile, former US Open and Wimbledon champion Venus Williams will miss action at the Melbourne Park for the first time in a decade, after she withdrew from the season-opening Grand Slam reportedly due to a leg injury, according to News Corp.

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