Former champion Kerber suffers Australian Open injury setback

Angelique Kerber's preparations for opening Grand Slam of year were dealt a blow Wednesday when she was forced to retire from elaide International with back pain. German, a former world number one who won Australian Open in 2016, pulled out when behind 6-3, 2-0 in her second-round clash with Ukraine's Dayana Yastremska. ninth seed began showing serious signs of back problem early in second set n stopped after two points in third game on her own serve, calling for trainer.

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Kerber suffers Australian Open injury setback

A medical evaluation on-court ended with 31-year-old world number 18 calling it quits against her teen opponent. Yastremska kept calm during delay, reing what she called "secret" tes. "I didn't want to lose focus," said world number 24, who has won three titles over past two seasons.

On or courts, Croat Donna Vekic rallied past Maria Sakkari of Greece 2-6, 7-5, 6-1, winning in two hours and overcoming six aces while breaking four times. She moved into a quarter-final against Yastremska. In men's draw, Russian Andrey Rublev, who Qatar Open at weekend, began his Australian venture by beating American Sam Querrey 6-3, 6-3 to move into a last-eight clash against Britain's Dan Evans.

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Rublev, who missed six weeks in 2019 with a wrist injury, improved to a perfect 5-0 for season. Russian did t let a delayed flight from Doha disrupt his on-site training in elaide, with third seed rey to go against Querrey. "It's important that I have mental confidence," he said. "One day you still can play so good, or day can be t that good. "At end it's all about how you accept se things and how you will find solution if you're t playing well."

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Rublev's win in Doha moved him up to number 18 in world. "It's an amazing feeling to be top 20 for first time, but re are still so many things that I can improve," he said. South African qualifier Lloyd Harris also vanced to quarters with a 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 win over Chile's sixth seed Christian Garin. 

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