World number 1 Ash Barty retired from doubles at the Australian Open on Friday and raised concerns about her fitness for singles as she handled a thigh load.
Barty played with her left thigh , who was heavily buckled in her second-round win against Australian Daria Gavrilova, but downplayed the injury on Thursday, saying she was « fit as a violin ».
She and American Jennifer Brady should be on Friday play in the second round of women’s doubles, but withdrew from the game and gave Elise Mertens and Aryna Sabalenka a walkover.
Top seed Barty, who reached the semi-finals last year, wants Australia’s 43-year-old wait for a home winner finish at the Grand Slam.
Ref: https://sportstar.thehindu.com
