Raducanu withdraws from Auckland with back issue

Emma Raducanu has withdrawn from this week's WTA event in Auckland because of a back problem.

The 22-year-old was due to play Robin Montgomery of the United States in the first round of the ASB Classic on Tuesday.

Raducanu will now fly to Melbourne to continue her preparations for the Australian Open, which begins on 12 January.

"Tried my best to be ready," she said. "I love Auckland and the fans here, but unfortunately I picked up a back niggle and won't be ready in time.

The 2021 US Open champion sprained ligaments in her foot in Seoul in September and could only play three further matches last season.

She won them all, on national duty for Great Britain at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals, but will now head into the first Grand Slam of the season with no match practice.

Raducanu suffered fewer injury problems last season, but only played 10 matches after Wimbledon, and also missed March's Miami Open with a back issue.

She has hired the renowned fitness trainer Yutaka Nakamura, who has been in Auckland with her.

"I just needed a more tailored approach and I needed someone more dedicated to me alone as an individual and I'm looking forward to what comes with this," Raducanu told reporters earlier this month.

"It definitely adds another dimension to the way me and [coach] Nick [Cavaday] work," she added.

"It's all become, in a very positive way, integrated and together and connected, and we can see already things transfer on to the tennis court that we do in the gym."

Raducanu is currently ranked 56th in the world and so will not be seeded for the Australian Open.