AMN
Defending Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka has withdrawn from her semifinal match at a WTA tournament in Melbourne with an abdominal injury, allowing her opponent Veronika Kudermetova to advance to the final on a walkover. In a statement Osaka said she had a lot of fun playing here in Melbourne. Unfortunately, she had an abdominal injury for which she needs rest and prepare for the Australian Open.
Kudermetova on Sunday will face second-seeded Simona Halep, who beat Zheng Qinwen 6-3, 6-2 in the other semifinal in the Summer Set 1 event. Earlier, American Amanda Anisimova advanced to her first final since 2019 with a 6-2, 6-0 win over Daria Kasatkina in the WTA’s Summer Set 2 event today at Rod Laver Arena. The Australian Open begins on Jan. 17.