Tennis: Injury forces Jones to miss ASB Classic

New Zealand tennis number one Sacha Jones has withdrawn from next week's ASB Classic because of a stomach injury. Photo / Getty Images

New Zealand tennis No 1 Sacha Jones has been forced to refocus on qualifying for the Australian Open after an abdominal strain has forced her from Monday's ASB Classic.

Jones, an unseeded wildcard for the tournament, pulled out today citing a stomach muscle injury that has failed to sufficiently respond to treatment.

Her withdrawl leaves former New Zealand No 1 Marina Erakovic as the only local hope among a field featuring five of the current top 20 women players.

Jones attempted to serve during practice yesterday but was in too much discomfort to continue. She has been replaced in the main draw by Japanese veteran Kimiko Date-Krumm.

``It happened about a week ago and it's been really painful,' the 19-year-old said.

``Perhaps it was over use from working on my serve a lot. I just felt it after one serve. I continued on and it got a lot worse over the next dozen or so serves. From there on I was in a lot of pain.'

Jones was a first round loser in 2007 to top seed Vera Zvonareva and missed last year's tournament through injury.

``I was really looking forward to playing in front of my family and friends -- you only get one chance a year -- but the timeline is not long enough for me to be ready.

`It's just a freak thing. All I can do is try and get better and play again next year.'

Jones was hoping to be fit for Australian Open qualifying, which starts on January 14.

If not, she plans to be be available to play for New Zealand in the Fed Cup a fortnight later.

Ranked 160 in the world, Jones rose up the rankings in the latter part of last year with a string of solid performances on the lower-tier ITF circuit.

She made her advances after missing six months due to injury and was keen to ensure her latest ailment was managed carefully.

``It wasn't fun (being sidelined in 2009), I don't want it to happen again this year,' she said.

Date-Krumm, 39, is ranked 69th in the world and was a first round casualty in last year's tournament.

The ASB Classic formed part of her return to top flight tennis after retiring in 1996 when ranked 8th in the world.

Date-Krumm lost in the first round of the 2009 Australian Open and then at Wimbledon while failing to qualify for the main draw at the French and US Opens.

However, in September she won in Seoul, South Korea, to become the second oldest WTA tour singles winner at age 38. American Billie Jean King was 39 when she won at Birmingham in 1983.

The women's first round draw will be held tomorrow.

- NZPA