Heather Watson a doubt for Australian Open with elbow injury

British number one pulls out of Moorilla Hobart International

Heather Watson (GETTY IMAGES)

British number one Heather Watson has withdrawn from next week's Moorilla Hobart International, raising doubts over her participation in the Australian Open.

The 20-year-old revealed she had suffered an elbow problem in yesterday's loss to Kiki Bertens in the second round of the ASB Classic in Auckland.

She tweeted this morning: "I injured my elbow yesterday in my singles match, unfortunately I have to withdraw from Hobart. Doing everything I can to get healthy."

Watson, who played doubles in Auckland yesterday after her singles defeat, faces a race against time to be fit for the first grand slam of the year, which begins on January 14 at Melbourne Park.

PA