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via Reuters

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via Reuters

The 2022 WTA season is lined up with a total of five events as part of the Australian tennis summer. The WTA Adelaide International 1 will be the first event of the season as it already contains top stars such as Ashleigh Barty, Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, amongst others.

With players slowly landing in Australia to play the Australian Open alongside the warm-up events, the next couple of weeks promise entertaining action for fans of WTA and the ATP tours. As the tournaments are approaching, there are a few players who are announcing their withdrawals owing to different reasons.

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Garbine Muguruza and Belinda Bencic out of WTA Adelaide International 1

World no.3 Garbine Muguruza and no.23 Belinda Bencic have reportedly pulled out of the WTA 500 event in Adelaide. While Bencic tested positive for COVID-19 after playing the exhibition event in Abu Dhabi, the reason for Muguruza’s withdrawal is not yet revealed.

Muguruza ended the 2021 season on a high by clinching the WTA Finals in Guadalajara. At the tournament, the Spaniard defeated the likes of Barbora Krejciova, Anett Kontaveit, and Paula Badosa. Earlier, Muguruza also won the Chicago Fall Tennis Classic event.

However, the 2017 Wimbledon champion couldn’t produce satisfactory performances at the Grand Slams. Her best performances were at the Australian Open and the US Open, where she reached pre-quarters.

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Both Bencic and Muguruza had positives to take forward to the 2022 WTA season

Entering the 2022 season with a lot of confidence, Muguruza is definitely the player to look forward to in the Australian summer. Coming to Bencic, the Swiss star’s 2021 season was a mixed bag when it comes to grand slams but the Gold medal she won in the singles event at Tokyo Olympics is the main highlight.

Also, Bencic won the silver medal in women’s doubles event in Tokyo and also took Switzerland to the finals of the Billie Jean King Cup(previously known as the Fed Cup). For her contribution towards the team during the tournament, Bencic was also given the ‘Heart award’.

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USA Today via Reuters

After testing positive for COVID-19 post Mubadala event, Bencic is currently resting as she intends to make the trip to Australia and be ready for the ‘happy slam’.

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Also read: ‘On His Way to Glory’: How Serena Williams Taught Tennis to Shaquille O’Neal

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