American Jamie Hampton is confident she will be right for the Australian Open after pulling out of her ASB Classic tennis semi-final against compatriot Venus Williams.
Hampton, the world No.28 and seeded fifth in Auckland, picked up a hip injury in morning practice ahead of her scheduled Friday evening encounter with Williams.
She says she is likely to withdraw from the Sydney International but expected to be in Melbourne.
“I think I’m out of next week – it’s still up in the air,” she said.
“But I think I’ll be fine for the Australian Open, especially if I take the proper steps in recovery.”
Hampton said she “probably” would have played against Williams if the year’s first grand slam wasn’t so close.
She said the injury happened at the end of her warm-up.
“I was taking a couple of extra swings and I just jammed my hip,” she said.
“I spoke with the physio and doctor and there’s a possibility I can make it worse if I played.”
Hampton, who turns 24 next week, progressed into the semi-finals in Auckland for the second year in a row.
After getting past unseeded compatriot Lauren Davis on Thursday, she spoke about wanting to face Fed Cup teammate Williams on court for the first time.
She said then that she had nothing but respect for the former world No.1 and seven-time grand slam winner.
After her withdrawal, she expressed disappointment that the chance would now not come this week.
“It’s incredibly disappointing,” she said.
“I would have love to have had the opportunity to play such a great champion, but it’s how the cookie crumbles.”
Williams, who is unseeded, will meet either Serbia’s Ana Ivanovic or Belgian Kirsten Flipkens, the No.2 and No.3 seeds, in the title decider on Saturday.