HOBART, Australia (AP) — Former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin was beaten on Thursday in the semifinals of the Hobart International by Elisabetta Cocciaretto 7-5, 4-6, 6-1.

Kenin won the Australian Open in 2020. The Hobart WTA tournament is a major warm-up for the Australian Open which begins Monday.

In the Hobart final, the 21-year-old Cocciaretto will face Lauren Davis. Davis defeated Anna Blinkova 6-3, 6-3 in the other semifinal.

“It's unbelievable to be in the final,” Cocciaretto said. “It was unexpected. She (Kenin) is a very good player.”

LONDON (AP) — The International Tennis Federation is ending its Davis Cup partnership with the private investment group fronted by former Barcelona soccer star Gerard Piqué, which helped revamp the storied competition in 2018.

The ITF signed a 25-year partnership with Kosmos Tennis in 2018, when a new Davis Cup format was launched in an effort to revitalize the most prestigious team event in tennis and make it more lucrative. But the ITF announced Thursday that it had ended the deal, without providing details for the reasons behind the decision, and said it will run this year's Davis Cup on its own.

“The ITF can confirm that its partnership with Kosmos Tennis for Davis Cup is ending," the federation said in a statement. “The ITF has ensured financial contingencies are in place and as the custodian of the competition we will operate the 2023 Qualifiers and Finals as scheduled, with the Final 8 taking place in Malaga, Spain, this November."

Piqué, who ended his playing career in November, became the public face of Kosmos and had pledged that the group would invest $3 billion in tennis during the 25-year partnership. Kosmos did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

How well do you know the Australian Open, which is scheduled to begin at Melbourne Park on Monday morning (Sunday night EST)? Try this AP quiz about the year’s first Grand Slam tennis tournament:

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1st Round: Novak Djokovic is back in Australia to pursue a 10th championship there and 22nd Grand Slam title overall after being deported a year ago because was not vaccinated against COVID-19. Who was the last player to beat Djokovic at Melbourne Park? (Bonus: Name the year and the round of the match.)

a.) Andreas Seppi

HOBART, Australia (AP) — Former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin is two wins away from her first title in three years after coming from behind to make the semifinals of the Hobart International.

The 24-year-old Kenin, who beat Anhelina Kalinina 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 on Thursday, is ranked 280th after a career-high ranking of No. 4. Injuries and poor form saw her ranking plummet after her win at Melbourne Park in 2020.

It is the American’s first semifinal at a WTA level or higher since her run to the final of the French Open in 2020.

“I just tried to keep on fighting. She’s a tough player to play. I knew I had to hang in there,” Kenin, the 2019 Hobart winner, said. “Match after match I’m playing better and better. I hope I can keep it going.”

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Former finalist Marin Cilic has withdrawn from the Australian Open due to a knee injury.

Cilic, 34, was a runner-up in Melbourne in 2018 when he lost to Roger Federer in the final.

“Not a great start to 2023 and few tough days in Melbourne,” he wrote on Twitter on Thursday. “Devastated I can’t play this year at the Australian Open but health comes first. See you next year Melbourne!”

Cilic started the season at the Maharashtra Open in India but withdrew ahead of his quarterfinal against Tallon Griekspoor with a knee injury he said he sustained in training.