Two-time Grand Slam champion withdraws from Sydney due to illness

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Garbine kicked off the season at Hopman Cup, losing to Angelique Kerber in three sets and in straight sets to Ashleigh Barty before beating Alize Cornet in the last round robin match. The Spaniard was forced to withdraw from the mixed doubles match against France after she tweaked a thigh muscle and she went to Sydney where she defeated the compatriot Carla Suarez Navarro 6-3, 6-4 in an hour and 17 minutes to reach the second round.

After the match, Muguruza said she feels much better than in Perth, playing against just two break points and suffering one break of serve to keep the pressure on Suarez Navarro. On the other hand, he stole the rivals serve three times, controlling the scoreboard in both sets to march towards the finish line and set the second round clash against the 7th seed Kiki Bertens.

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The draw for the Australian Open is just two days away and Garbine is hoping to recover in time and enter the first Grand Slam of the season where she reached the quarter-final in 2017.