MELBOURNE, Jan 17, 2022 (BSS/AFP) - Tunisian ninth seed Ons Jabeur pulled out

of the Australian Open before her first-round match Monday after injuring
herself last week at the Sydney Classic.

  The 27-year-old, a quarter-finalist in 2020, was due to meet Spain's Nuria
Parrizas Diaz in a later afternoon clash but was replaced by lucky loser
Irina Bara of Romania.

  No official reason was given but Jabeur retired hurt in Sydney last week
while playing world number seven Anett Kontaveit.

  She called for a timeout after losing the first set and after lengthy
treatment on her lower back, forfeited the match.

  Missing the Australian Open is a big blow for a player who had a
breakthrough 2021, when she won her maiden WTA singles title and surged into
the top 10 for the first time.