Double withdrawal as Azarenka and Keys out of Canadian Open due to injuries sustained in first round

Few notable players have been withdrawn from the ongoing Canadian Open (National Bank Open) in Montreal.

The former world number one Belarus’ Victoria Azarenka has been ruled out of the competition after suffering an abdominal injury.

The 34-year-old won her first-round clash against Magda Linette of Poland with a score of 6-3, 6-0 and was due to face America’s Sloane Stephens in the second round.

The development will be a severe blow for Azarenka who would’ve been keen to use the Canadian Open as a perfect opportunity to prepare for the upcoming US Open.

The fourth and the last Grand Slam of the year is set to begin in New York in less than 20 days’ time.

America’s Madison Keys was another big-name player to withdraw from the competition on Tuesday.

The 28-year-old won the first-round fixture against fellow American former world number one Venus William with a score of 6-2, 7-5.

However, Keys suffered a glute injury during that fixture with made it impossible for her to return to court to face Italy’s Jasmine Paolini in the round of 32 clash.