Sick Wozniacki pulls out of Qatar Total Open
Doha, Qatar: Former World No.1 and two-time runner up in Doha Caroline Wozniacki pulled out of the Qatar Total Open on Tuesday after suffering from a “viral illness”.
"Just not feeling well. I had a fever, just don't feel well. Gonna go back to bed and rest up," said Wozniacki at a press conference on Tuesday.
"You know, I have been here for quite a few days practising and just trying my best to be prepared and ready to go today. But I woke up – I already felt it last night, but I woke up today and didn't feel well at all. Sometimes you have to make those decisions and just need to rest up," she said.
Sixth seed Wozniacki, who was supposed to play Karolína Muchová in the first round, was replaced by lucky loser Samatha Stousor, but the Australian failed to take advantage of her good fortune and lost to the qualifier from the Czech Republic 4-6, 2-6.
Earlier world number 14 Australia's Ashleigh Barty and number 19 Caroline Garcia of France had also pulled out of the WTA event.
“Unfortunately I have withdrawn from Doha and Dubai with a minor hip injury. After consulting with the WTA doctors, I have taken their advice to have a few weeks rest. I am sad to miss these tournaments and hope to be back next year. Best of luck to all the girls competing,” said Barty.
Meanwhile, Latvian seventh seed Anastasija Sevastova became the first big casualty on the court when she lost to Russian qualifier Anna Blinkova, 7-6 (7/5), 6-4.
In some other matches, fifth seed Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands overcame a terrible start to defeat Camila Giorgi of Italy 0-6, 7-6 (9-7), 6-4, ninth seed Julia Goerges of Germany defeated Australian qualifier Ajla Tomljanovic 6-2, 6-2, former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia beat Mihaela Buzarnescu of Romania 6-1, 4-6, 6-2.
