Julia Goerges has withdrawn from this week’s Sydney International just hours after claiming her third-straight title on the WTA Tour.

The German secured a hard-fought 6–4 7–6 success over former world number one Caroline Wozniacki in the final of the Auckland Open on Saturday, with that triumph following on from her victories at the end of last season in the Kremlin Cup and WTA Elite Trophy.

Those successes have helped establish Goerges as one of the in-form players ahead of the upcoming Australian Open, although her participation in the first Grand Slam event of 2018 could now be in doubt, as she has pulled out of this week’s Sydney International with a right knee injury.

The 29-year-old will now be hoping to prove her fitness ahead of the Australian Open, although she admits her recent run of form will count for nothing ahead of the tournament at Melbourne Park.

“It means quite a lot (her victory in Auckland), I must say.

I’ve been very consistent in this tournament over the past few years and it’s nice to finally get this big trophy,” Goerges said.

“I can’t really complain about my situation now but, in the next days, the work will start again – it doesn’t mean anything for you in the next event.”

Goerges has never made it beyond the fourth round of the Australian Open, although she has achieved that feat on three previous occasions and she is priced at 26.00 to go all the way and win the event this year.