<p>Former Australian Open champions Naomi Osaka and Victoria Azarenka withdrew from their warm-up tournaments for the year's first Grand Slam on Saturday, citing injuries.</p>.<p>Osaka pulled out of her Gippsland Trophy semi-final with an unspecified "niggling injury" but said she looked forward to competing at the Australian Open, which starts on Monday.</p>.<p>"Sorry to Tennis Australia and the fans to have to withdraw today," Osaka said in a statement.</p>.<p>"I have a niggling injury and in light of the AO on the horizon, I need to be cautious. I look forward to competing next week."</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/tennis/serena-williams-withdraws-from-semifinals-in-australian-open-tuneup-947998.html" target="_blank">Serena Williams withdraws from semifinals in Australian Open tuneup</a></strong></p>.<p>The injuries were a further blow for organisers, coming a day after Serena Williams withdrew from her Yarra Valley Open semi-final against world number one Ash Barty.</p>.<p>Barty will face a tough test in Sunday's final against the in-form Garbine Muguruza, who backed up a 6-2 6-2 quarter-final win over Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin with a 6-1 6-0 thrashing of Marketa Vondrousova on Saturday.</p>.<p>The Spaniard, the runner-up to Kenin at Melbourne Park last year, has dropped only 10 games in four matches on her way to the final.</p>.<p>"I think I played well today, my serve was working well at the right moments and I was able to control the match," Muguruza said after wrapping up her win over the Czech in under an hour.</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/dh-galleries/photos/in-pics-five-key-mens-and-womens-talents-to-look-out-for-in-the-australian-open-947977" target="_blank">In Pics | Five key men's and women's talents to look out for in the Australian Open</a></strong></p>.<p>"I'm expecting another battle tomorrow."</p>.<p>Osaka's withdrawal gave Belgian Elise Mertens a walkover to the final of the Gippsland Trophy, where she will meet Ekaterina Alexandrova or Kaia Kanepi.</p>.<p>Azarenka, who won back-to-back Australian Open titles in 2012-13, withdrew from her Grampians Trophy quarter-final against Anett Kontaveit, giving the Estonian a walkover. The WTA said the Belarusian had a lower back problem.</p>.<p>Kontaveit will play Maria Sakkari in the semi-finals after the Greek ousted 2016 Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber 6-4 6-2 in their quarter-final in front of a small crowd on Margaret Court Arena. </p>
<p>Former Australian Open champions Naomi Osaka and Victoria Azarenka withdrew from their warm-up tournaments for the year's first Grand Slam on Saturday, citing injuries.</p>.<p>Osaka pulled out of her Gippsland Trophy semi-final with an unspecified "niggling injury" but said she looked forward to competing at the Australian Open, which starts on Monday.</p>.<p>"Sorry to Tennis Australia and the fans to have to withdraw today," Osaka said in a statement.</p>.<p>"I have a niggling injury and in light of the AO on the horizon, I need to be cautious. I look forward to competing next week."</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/tennis/serena-williams-withdraws-from-semifinals-in-australian-open-tuneup-947998.html" target="_blank">Serena Williams withdraws from semifinals in Australian Open tuneup</a></strong></p>.<p>The injuries were a further blow for organisers, coming a day after Serena Williams withdrew from her Yarra Valley Open semi-final against world number one Ash Barty.</p>.<p>Barty will face a tough test in Sunday's final against the in-form Garbine Muguruza, who backed up a 6-2 6-2 quarter-final win over Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin with a 6-1 6-0 thrashing of Marketa Vondrousova on Saturday.</p>.<p>The Spaniard, the runner-up to Kenin at Melbourne Park last year, has dropped only 10 games in four matches on her way to the final.</p>.<p>"I think I played well today, my serve was working well at the right moments and I was able to control the match," Muguruza said after wrapping up her win over the Czech in under an hour.</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/dh-galleries/photos/in-pics-five-key-mens-and-womens-talents-to-look-out-for-in-the-australian-open-947977" target="_blank">In Pics | Five key men's and women's talents to look out for in the Australian Open</a></strong></p>.<p>"I'm expecting another battle tomorrow."</p>.<p>Osaka's withdrawal gave Belgian Elise Mertens a walkover to the final of the Gippsland Trophy, where she will meet Ekaterina Alexandrova or Kaia Kanepi.</p>.<p>Azarenka, who won back-to-back Australian Open titles in 2012-13, withdrew from her Grampians Trophy quarter-final against Anett Kontaveit, giving the Estonian a walkover. The WTA said the Belarusian had a lower back problem.</p>.<p>Kontaveit will play Maria Sakkari in the semi-finals after the Greek ousted 2016 Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber 6-4 6-2 in their quarter-final in front of a small crowd on Margaret Court Arena. </p>