Australian Open contenders Maria Sharapova and Simona Halep withdrew from the Brisbane International yesterday after suffering injuries less than two weeks before the first grand slam of the year.

Romanian top seed Halep was felled by 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.

Russian Sharapova, the defending champion, was nursing an arm injury which meant a premature exit and no matches at her only tournament before the Melbourne slam which begins on January 18.

“I hurt my forearm in practice a couple of days ago and need to precautionary withdraw with the #AusOpen starting,” Sharapova was quoted as saying by Brisbane tournament organisers.

Sharapova has long been dogged by injuries and missed last year’s US Open with a leg muscle injury and then suffered an arm injury on her return in China in October.

The world number four had been due to face compatriot Ekaterina Makarova in first round action yesterday but was replaced by another Russian, lucky loser Margarita Gasparyan.

That match, on Pat Rafter Arena, was one of several to be delayed by rain on the east coast of Australia, causing further headaches for the tournament organisers shorn of two of their biggest draw cards.

The injuries to Halep and 28-year-old Sharapova, five-times a grand slam singles champion, follow fitness concerns over Australian Open defending champion Serena Williams at the Hopman Cup.

Halep, the world number two, was scheduled to face twice Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka in second round action after receiving a bye and she downplayed concerns about the injury being anything serious.

US Open finalist Roberta Vinci escaped any drama and became the first woman through to the last eight on the Brisbane hard courts after the Italian demolished Domi-nika Cibulkova 6-1 6-1.