Injured Serena out of Cincy

ByAgencies

Published on: Aug 17, 2016 06:44 am IST

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CINCINNATI: Top seed Serena Williams gave up a wild card entry into the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Masters tournament on Monday after complaining of a shoulder injury.

The world No 1, who is being chased in the rankings by German Angelique Kerber, took a free entry only last week and was seeded atop the draw.

But the 34-year-old American reversed course abruptly and withdrew from the tournament on Monday.

“I’m very disappointed I’m not able to compete as I was really looking forward to defending my title,” Williams said.

“My shoulder inflammation continues to be a challenge, but I am anxious to return to the court as soon as possible.”

The absence of Williams now opens the door to Kerber to make a run at the WTA top ranking. Williams has been No. 1 for 183 straight weeks and 306 overall.

But Kerber can become number one if she wins the Cincinnati title.

Williams took a wild card spot to get into the draw. She will be replaced by lucky loser Misaki Doi of Japan. Doi moved into the second round and will face American Christina McHale, who beat Zheng Saisai of China 6-2, 6-2.

IVANOVIC SHOCKED BY CROATIAN VEKIC

Ukrainian Lesia Tsurenko defeated China’s Zhang Shiau 6-3, 6-3 while American CoCo Vandeweghe put out Italian Sara Errani 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. Croatian Donna Vekic shocked newly married former world number one Ana Ivanovic 6-4, 6-2. Australian Daria Gavrilova defeated Caroline Garcia of France 7-5, 6-3; Latvian Jelena Ostapenko stopped Anna Karolina Schmiedlova of Slovakia 1-6, 7-6 (6), 7-6 (5).

SANIA-STRYCOVA GET SEVENTH SEEDING

Indian tennis star Sania Mirza and her new Czech partner Barbora Strycova have been seeded seventh at the WTA Western and Southern Open, one of the two events in tuneup to the US Open.

It will be Sania’s first match after the Olympics and her split with fellow world No 1 Martina Hingis, who has now teamed up with American Coco Vandeweghe.

AIWR SCORE OVER MMC

Tyson Pereira and Sumeet Kuvekar struck a goal each in Air India Western Region’s 2-1 win over Mumbai Municipal Corporation in the MDFA Second Division league at Parel.

OTHER RESULT

Second Division: Bharat FC 0 drew with Miners FC ‘B’ 0.

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