Tennis: French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko a late withdrawal from ASB Classic

Name: ASB Classic preview
Uploaded: 2020-01-06T13:29:35+13:00
Duration: 128 s
Description: Michael Burgess and Matt Brown discuss the return of a fit and focussed Serena Williams to the ASB Classic, and look ahead to day one with Kiwi wildcard Valentina Ivanov in action, as well as highly rated American teenager Coco Gauff. VIDEO/Spark Sport

NZ Herald

5 Jan, 2020 08:20 AMQuick Read

Michael Burgess and Matt Brown discuss the return of a fit and focussed Serena Williams to the ASB Classic, and look ahead to day one with Kiwi wildcard Valentina Ivanov in action, as well as highly rated American teenager Coco Gauff. VIDEO/Spark Sport

Seventh seed Jelena Ostapenko has withdrawn from the ASB Classic on the eve of the event due to personal reasons.

The 2017 French Open champion is ranked 44th in the world. She has been replaced in the draw by the next player eligible to be seeded, Belgium's Alison Van Uytvanck.

Ostapenko had an up-and-down 2019, dropping in the rankings.

The 22-year-old reached the semifinals in both the singles and doubles in Auckland three years ago but had to withdraw from the tournament midway through her semifinal against American Lauren Davis, who went on to win the event.

Ostapenko is the second seeded player to pull out after US Open champion and 2019 ASB Classic runner-up Bianca Andreescu withdrew late last month due to a knee injury.