Former semi-finalist Muchova latest withdrawal from 2022 Australian Open

2021 Australian Open semi-finalist Karolina Muchova is the latest withdrawal from the 2022 edition.

The Czech beat world No 1 Ash Barty in the quarter-finals to make it to the last four, but has not played a match on the WTA Tour since the US Open, where she was knocked out in the first round.

She has mentioned on social media that she is aiming to start the 2022 season “pain-free”, and in her announcement that she would be skipping the year’s first Grand Slam, wrote: “I’m doing all I can to get back on the court as soon as I’m able.”

With her absence, that now means that three out of four of the 2021 semi-finalists will not be in Melbourne next month – with Jennifer Brady and Serena Williams having also confirmed they will not be competing.

Brady has been struggling with a foot injury for much of the year, while Williams is suffering with the hamstring problem that forced her out of Wimbledon and the subsequent events on the calendar.

Defending champion Naomi Osaka is the only one of the quartet still expected to be there.

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