Dual grand slam champion Garbine Muguruza becomes fourth top-10 player to withdraw from Adelaide International

Adelaide International organisers will be desperate for a deep Ash Barty run, with another big name withdrawing.

Garbine Muguruza, pictured celebrating her Dubai title in March, is out of the Adelaide International. Picture: Getty Images

The once talent-laden Adelaide International has suffered another blow on tournament eve, with Garbine Muguruza the latest to withdraw.

A WTA 500 event that once boasted nine of the best 10 women on the planet now has only five of those still entered, including Australia’s world No.1 Ash Barty.

The adjacent ATP 250 tournament has largely avoided the same fate, with Ugo Humbert (ATP Cup), Sebastian Korda and Miomir Kecmanovic the major losses.

Muguruza is the world No.3 and a dual grand slam champion and posted vision of herself training on Tuesday but is now out of the event without a reason given yet.

Fellow top-10 stars Karolina Pliskova (hand), Barbora Krejcikova and Ons Jabeur (Covid-19) have also pulled out, as have Olympic champion Belinda Bencic (Covid-19) and 2017 French Open winner Jelena Ostapenko.

Spain's Garbine Muguruza is a significant out for the Adelaide International. Picture: AFP

Tennis Australia chief executive Craig Tiley warned last week that there would be a coronavirus attrition rate, with players tested before and after arrival in the country.

An original main draw cut-off at world No.33 Ekaterina Alexandrova – she is now ranked No.34 – looks set to blow out beyond 100 because a bunch of alternates are also out for various reasons.

But the Barty factor and the otherwise excellent depth looks likely to rescue the tournament.

Her great rival and second-ranked Aryna Sabalenka – they have split their eight meetings – Maria Sakkari, Paula Badosa and 2020 French Open champion Iga Swiatek are also still in the field.

World No.1 Ash Barty is the top seed and main drawcard for the Adelaide International. Picture: Getty Images

Beyond them, grand slam winners Victoria Azarenka, Petra Kvitova and Sofia Kenin are others to watch, along with US Open runner-up Leylah Fernandez and young gun Coco Gauff.

Former world No.3 and US Open quarter-finalist Elina Svitolina has a gilt-edged chance, too, to start the year strongly as she looks to rebound back into the top 10.

Svitolina’s husband, French star Gael Monfils, is the top seed in the men’s draw from Karen Khachanov and Marin Cilic.

John Millman and Ajla Tomljanovic are among the other Australians competing in Adelaide.

The tournament begins with qualifying on Sunday.

Adelaide International outs

Garbine Muguruza, Karolina Pliskova, Barbora Krejcikova, Ons Jabeur, Belinda Bencic, Jelena Ostapenko, Marketa Vondrousova, Amanda Anisimova, Varvara Gracheva, Anna Karolina Schmiedlova, Rebecca Peterson, Oceane Dodin, Aliaksandra Sasnovich, Kristina Mladenovic, Claire Liu, Astra Sharma, Magdalena Frech, Harmony Tan, Anna Kalinskaya, Diane Parry.