Caroline Garcia’s Australian Open participation in doubt

  • Caroline Garcia stormed into the world’s top 10 at the end of last season
  • Frenchwoman may not start 2018 well though, due to problems with back injury
  • She has pulled out of Brisbane International and her Australian Open is in doubt
  • Garcia started match against Alize Cornet but had to stop at start of third set

Caroline Garcia suffered a worrying start to the new season when she was forced to withdraw from her opening match at the Brisbane International with lower back pain.

The Frenchwoman had a storming run at the end of last season, climbing into the top 10 and qualifying for the WTA Finals in Singapore.

But Garcia now finds herself in a race to be fit for the Australian Open after tearfully pulling the plug against compatriot Alize Cornet at the start of the third set.

Caroline Garcia winces during his match against Alize Cornet at the Brisbane International

The Frenchwoman, who impressed last season, was then seen to by a medical professional

The Frenchwoman, who impressed last season, was then seen to by a medical professional

The fourth seed said on brisbaneinternational.com.au: ‘I always had some issues with my back. At the beginning of the match I felt a pain in my lower back and it was different than it is normally.

‘It was getting worse and worse and in the end I couldn’t really move. I will take some rest and with the physio I will improve as fast as I can. But right now I don’t know much.’

Cornet, who reached the final in Brisbane 12 months ago, next faces Mirjana Lucic-Baroni, who defeated Tatjana Maria 6-4 4-6 6-0.

Garcia was emotional and had to pull out of her match in Australia on New Year's Eve

Garcia was emotional and had to pull out of her match in Australia on New Year’s Eve

There are now question marks over whether Garcia will be able to play at the Australian Open

There are now question marks over whether Garcia will be able to play at the Australian Open

Seventh seed Anastasija Sevastova eased to a 6-1 6-3 victory over home favourite Sam Stosur while there were also wins for Ajla Tomljanovic, Ana Konjuh and Aleksandra Krunic.

Defending champion Katerina Siniakova got her Shenzhen Open campaign off to a flying start with a 6-1 6-1 victory over Ons Jabeur.

Fourth seed Irina-Camelia Begu was a 6-1 6-2 winner against Chinese wild card Liu Fangzhou while Alison Riske, beaten in the final by Siniakova last year, knocked out fifth seed Wang Qiang 7-5 6-0.



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