Bernard Tomic has withdrawn from the Sydney International while trailing Russian Teymuraz Gabashvili by a set to love in his postponed quarter-final at Olympic Park.

Top-seeded Tomic was down 6-3 3-0 before pulling the pin at the rain-affected Australian Open lead-up event on Friday.

The Australian No.1 had been facing the prospect of playing three matches in two days had he made the final, but is now free to head to Melbourne to prepare for the season’s first grand slam starting on Monday.