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Injured Djokovic withdraws from China Open
Source: Agencies |
September 30, 2011, Friday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
TOP-RANKED Novak Djokovic has pulled out of the China Open because of a back injury.
Tournament organizers said the defending champion withdrew because the latest medical checks show the injury he suffered while winning the US Open at Flushing Meadows in New York has not yet healed.
"Before he set out to Beijing, Djokovic had another physical check. Unfortunately, the result showed that he didn't recover as expected," organizers said on the website of the tournament, the main draw of which starts on Monday.
It is not yet clear whether the 24-year-old Serb will also skip the Shanghai Masters that starts in two weeks.
Djokovic has said the partial rupture of a back muscle that forced him to quit his Davis Cup semifinal match against Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro is not serious, but required rest.
Meanwhile, former greats Pete Sampras and Marat Safin will play the debut match at the China Open's new stadium today to mark the opening of the tournament.
Diamond Stadium
The new stadium, named National Tennis Stadium or "Diamond Stadium", has a retractable roof and a diamond-like structure. It is located in the Olympic Green Tennis Center, which hosted the tennis matches at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
"It is my first time here. I have numerous expectations from my tour of China, especially the game with my old adversary Safin," Sampras, a 14-time grand slam champion, said at a news conference yesterday.
Safin, more familiar with the city, said Beijing has always been a very welcoming destination for him.
"I had a memorable farewell match here," added the Russian, who lost to Rafael Nadal in the quarterfinals of the China Open two years ago and received a touching retirement ceremony from his Chinese fans.
"The first time I came to the China Open was in 2002, and I reached the final in 2003. I'm really happy to be back again," said Safin.
Tournament organizers said the defending champion withdrew because the latest medical checks show the injury he suffered while winning the US Open at Flushing Meadows in New York has not yet healed.
"Before he set out to Beijing, Djokovic had another physical check. Unfortunately, the result showed that he didn't recover as expected," organizers said on the website of the tournament, the main draw of which starts on Monday.
It is not yet clear whether the 24-year-old Serb will also skip the Shanghai Masters that starts in two weeks.
Djokovic has said the partial rupture of a back muscle that forced him to quit his Davis Cup semifinal match against Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro is not serious, but required rest.
Meanwhile, former greats Pete Sampras and Marat Safin will play the debut match at the China Open's new stadium today to mark the opening of the tournament.
Diamond Stadium
The new stadium, named National Tennis Stadium or "Diamond Stadium", has a retractable roof and a diamond-like structure. It is located in the Olympic Green Tennis Center, which hosted the tennis matches at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
"It is my first time here. I have numerous expectations from my tour of China, especially the game with my old adversary Safin," Sampras, a 14-time grand slam champion, said at a news conference yesterday.
Safin, more familiar with the city, said Beijing has always been a very welcoming destination for him.
"I had a memorable farewell match here," added the Russian, who lost to Rafael Nadal in the quarterfinals of the China Open two years ago and received a touching retirement ceremony from his Chinese fans.
"The first time I came to the China Open was in 2002, and I reached the final in 2003. I'm really happy to be back again," said Safin.
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