By Foster Niumata
Auckland Tennis officials will call world No 2 Marcelo Rios by tomorrow to check on a Chilean newspaper report that he is considering withdrawing from next week's ATP Open at Stanley St.
Rios, training in Florida, has injured his right leg and has been advised by his doctor not to defend his Auckland Heineken Open title, according to the report.
The doctor said Rios would leave the decision until this week, but would be best to rest and ready himself for the Australian Open the following week, where even then he would still not be 100 per cent.
Rios was runner-up last year at the Australian, which over the weekend lost former two-times champion and No 1 Pete Sampras, with mental and physical fatigue.
"Any report like this is upsetting but we know as much as anyone," Auckland
tournament director Graham Pearce said yesterday. "We'll check directly with Rios in the next 24 to 48 hours and just see what the actual situation is."
Tennis: Report says Rios will pull out of tourney
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