Muguruza withdraws from Hobart International due to illness
HOBART, Australia (AP) — Two-time major winner Garbine Muguruza withdrew from her quarterfinal at the Hobart International with a viral illness on Thursday.
Second-seeded Muguruza was scheduled to play Veronika Kudermetova. The Russian received a walkover and advanced to the semifinals.
Muguruza won the 2016 French Open and 2017 Wimbledon. She is scheduled to play a qualifier when the Australian Open begins on Monday in Melbourne.
In later quarterfinals in Hobart, British qualifier Heather Watson beat top-seeded Elise Mertens 6-7 (5) 6-4, 7-5, and fourth-seeded Zhang Shuai defeated Lauren Davis 6-1, 6-4.
Zhang will play Kudermetova in one semifinal on Friday, and Watson will take on third-seeded Elena Rybakina, who beat Lizette Cabrera 6-7 (4), 7-6 (2), 7-5.
