AUCKLAND: Former US Open champion Emma Raducanu pulled out of the Auckland Classic on Tuesday with a “back niggle” in a blow to her Australian Open preparations.
Britain’s Raducanu will now fly to Melbourne to begin rehabilitation ahead of the year’s first major starting on January 12.
The 22-year-old has suffered a series of injuries since bursting onto the scene with her New York triumph in 2021.
“I’ve tried my best to be ready. I love Auckland and the fans here,” the 56th-ranked Raducanu said.
“But unfortunately I’ve picked up a back niggle and I won’t be ready in time.”
Raducanu is traveling with renowned fitness coach Yutaka Nakamura in an attempt to better withstand the rigors of professional tennis.
Raducanu missed a chunk of 2023 following wrist and ankle surgery, and was recently sidelined for two months by a foot injury.
Former Australian Open semifinalist Elize Mertens also withdrew Tuesday hours before the second seed’s first-round match in Auckland.
Top seed Madison Keys defied blustery conditions to win her first-round match in straight sets over Lucia Bronzetti.
American world number 21 Keys was relieved to start her season with a solid 6-4, 6-4 outing against the Italian.
“I feel like we all come out, we’re a little bit nervous, but it’s obviously so much fun to be back out here,” she said.
“Lucia is one of those players who’s just going to make you keep on having to play shots. So it’s great for the confidence this early in the season.”
The 29-year-old will next play unseeded Romanian Jaqueline Cristian after her Ukrainian opponent Yuliia Starodubtseva retired during their second set.
Former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin beat China’s Wang Xiyu 7-6 (7/5), 6-1, the American setting up a second-round match against fifth-seeded Dane Clara Tauson.
Emma Raducanu pulls out of Australian Open warm-up with back injury
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Emma Raducanu pulls out of Australian Open warm-up with back injury
- Former US Open champion will now fly to Melbourne to begin rehabilitation ahead of the year’s first major
- The 22-year-old has suffered a series of injuries since bursting onto the scene with her New York triumph in 2021
Captain Kane helps undermanned Bayern go nine clear in Bundesliga
- Kane toasted an “amazing year” in 2025 where he won his first league title, telling DAZN: “We started to build a spirit and a team energy that is hard to break and we took that into this season
HEIDENHEIM, Germany: An understrength Bayern Munich coasted to a 4-0 away win over lowly Heidenheim on Sunday, restoring their nine-point lead atop the table in Harry Kane’s first match as captain.
Borussia Dortmund had closed the gap to the leaders to six points on Friday but Bayern were in complete control in the last Bundesliga match before the winter break, winning thanks to goals from Josip Stanisic, Michael Olize, Luis Diaz and Kane.
Kane toasted an “amazing year” in 2025 where he won his first league title, telling DAZN: “We started to build a spirit and a team energy that is hard to break and we took that into this season.
“We know there’s a long way to go until the end of the season but we’re doing all the right things.”
Bayern arrived in Heidenheim missing almost a full starting XI, with Manuel Neuer, Joshua Kimmich, Konrad Laimer, Nicolas Jackson, Kim Min-jae and Aleksandar Pavlovic among those missing through injury, suspension or Africa Cup of Nations duty.
Only two outfield players on Bayern’s bench had ever started a Bundesliga match.
Bayern coach Vincent Kompany said it “felt like a Covid week,” adding: “The guys were dropping out one after another.
“I’m proud of the team because it’s not a given to come here and put in such a performance.”
The absentees meant England skipper Kane was handed the captain’s armband for the first time in his 121st competitive match for Bayern.
Olize had eye surgery on Monday but had no trouble guiding Bayern to an opener, curling in a corner for Stanisic to score in the 15th minute via a Jonathan Tah pass.
Olize doubled up for Bayern just after the half-hour mark in similar fashion, with a free-kick finding Hiroki Ito who laid it off for the France winger to tap home.
Looking fresh after missing Bayern’s last three matches with suspension, Diaz headed in the match-sealing goal with four minutes remaining.
Kane had missed a clear chance just after half-time but got on the scoresheet in stoppage time, sidestepping two defenders before driving a low shot inside the right post for his 30th goal of the season in all competitions.
The result leaves Heidenheim second last and stranded in the relegation spots, one point from safety.
Coach Frank Schmidt, a one-time Heidenheim player who took the club from the fifth division to the Bundesliga and the UEFA Conference League, put the focus on himself.
“I’m not satisfied. Not with myself, not with us, or with the coaching team, because we’ve allowed too many chances,” the 51-year-old said.
“It’s my responsibility to take care to make the team more stable than it is — that’s the first task.”
In Sunday’s other match, bottom-club Mainz and 16th-placed St. Pauli fought out a scoreless draw.
