Top seed and world number one Justine Henin-Hardenne has been forced to withdraw from this week’s WTA Family Circle Cup, tournament officials announced on Tuesday.
Henin-Hardenne, the defending champion, is suffering from low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), which can cause lightheadedness.
She had travelled to Charleston in hopes of playing but her condition has not improved.
”I have felt bad for two weeks now and that’s enough,” Henin-Hardenne said. ”I will now go back home and do everything I have to do in order to get better.”
Martina Navratilova was again foiled in her bid for her first United States singles victory in 10 years, losing 6-4, 6-4 to fellow American Amy Frazier on Tuesday.
The former world number one lost last week in her first US singles match in a decade, making a brief comeback to help her doubles game as she and partner Lisa Raymond prepare for Fed Cup matches and bid for an Athens Olympic berth.
Navratilova plans to continue her comeback in June on grass at Eastbourne, United Kingdom, where she made a singles comeback two years ago.
In other first-round results at the $1,3-million event, fourth-seeded American Venus Williams needed three sets to beat Samantha Reeves 4-6, 6-4, 6-3; Serbian Jelena Dokic beat Russia’s Tatiana Panova 6-0, 5-7, 7-5; Australia’s Nicole Pratt defeated American Alexandra Stevenson 6-4, 7-6 (7/3); and Japan’s Akiko Morigami ousted France’s Mary Pierce 6-2, 6-3.
American Meghann Shaughnessy has also withdrawn and her spot in the draw will be taken by a player from the qualifying round.
Shaughnessy has a right ankle sprain, suffered during her doubles title win last week at Amelia Island, Florida. — Sapa-AFP