Garbine Muguruza’s Australian Open preparations have hit a hurdle, with the two-time grand slam winner withdrawing from the Hobart International due to a viral illness.
The WTA tournament’s second seed was scheduled to play Russian Veronika Kudermetova in the quarter-finals on Thursday evening.
“I’m really sad that I had to withdraw from the Hobart International,” the 2016 French Open winner and 2017 Wimbledon champion said in a statement.
“It’s such a special tournament for me and it’s been great to return again this year. Thanks to all the wonderful fans and hopefully I can be back.”
Muguruza, who won the Hobart title six years ago, saved a match point in a tough three-set win over Ons Jabeur in the second round.
The world No.34 has four days to recover before the start of the Australian Open on Monday.
Muguruza, desperate to regain the form that saw her reach world No.1 in 2017, made the semi-finals of China’s Shenzhen Open the week before Hobart.
Kudermetova progresses to the semi-finals, where she’ll meet either fourth seed Zhang Shuai or American Lauren Davis.
In other quarter-finals on Thursday, Australian wildcard Lizette Cabrera plays third seed Elena Rybakina, while top seed Elise Mertens faces British qualifier Heather Watson.