Former US Open champion Emma Raducanu pulled out of the Auckland Classic on Tuesday with a "back niggle" in a blow to her Australian Open preparations.

Grand Slam winner Emma Raducanu has pulled out of the Auckland Open with a back problem in a setback for her preparations for the Australian Open. Raducanu, seeded sixth in the Auckland warmup, was due to play American Robin Montgomery in the first match of the evening session later on Tuesday.

Emma Raducanu has been forced to withdraw from the Auckland Open after suffering a back injury. The 22-year-old, who was seeded sixth in New Zealand, has begun her season in a frustratingly familiar manner after spending much of the past few years with various injuries,