The Australian Open contenders Maria Sharapova and Simona Halep withdrew from the Brisbane International after suffering injuries less than two weeks before the first grand slam of the year.<br />Halep is suffering with inflammation in her left achilles, an injury that hampered her 2015 campaign, but was hopeful of being fit in time for next week’s event in Sydney.<br />Sharapova, the defending champion, is nursing an arm injury which meant a premature exit and no matches at her only tournament before the Melbourne slam which begins on 18 January.<br />“I hurt my forearm in practice a couple days ago and need to precautionary withdraw with the Aus Open starting,” Sharapova was quoted as saying by Brisbane tournament organisers.
