- Former world No 1 sustains abdominal injury in Melbourne
- Japanese will rest up ahead of Australian Open title defence
Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka has pulled out of the semi-final of the WTA tournament in Melbourne on Saturday with an abdominal injury, saying her body was in shock after her tennis return.
The Japanese former world No 1 withdrew from her Rod Laver Arena clash with Russian Veronika Kudermetova. Set to defend her Australian Open crown later this month, Osaka was playing her first tournament in four months after last featuring at the US Open.