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Azarenka & Stosur withdraw from quarters

Victoria Azarenka felt she could not continue at Indian Wells © Getty Images

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Caroline Wozniacki and Angelique Kerber both reached the semi-finals of the BNP Paribas Open without playing a shot on Thursday, after their opponents were forced to withdraw due to injury.

The pair should be well rested for their head-to-head meeting to decide who will make the final of the tournament at Indian Wells, after Victoria Azarenka and Sam Stosur both pulled out before their scheduled quarter-finals.

Top seed Azarenka, due to face Wozniacki, did not take the court due to a problem with her ankle that appeared to be affecting her during her fourth round win over Urzula Radwanska.

The Australian Open champion had indicated she was struggling with her fitness in the aftermath of the win over the Pole.

"It was pretty obvious I wasn't feeling that well," Azarenka said. "My ankle was bothering me, it's been bothering me for a while, and it hasn't really been getting better."

Stosur, meanwhile, had not recovered from a hamstring injury she picked up as she served for the match in her last-16 contest against Mona Barthel.

"I don't know if you can get any more unlucky than that," Stosur said in a statement. "I think we only played another four points in that match. I felt something go in my calf and it was hurting a fair bit.

"Yesterday I took the day off practice and only did treatment, probably iced it about 10 times. This morning I thought I would give it a shot and tried to go out and warm up.

"After about five minutes, I knew that there was no chance I could play unfortunately. I think this is only the second time I've ever pulled out of a match in my career."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.