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The New Year was brimful of optimism for British teenager Heather Watson after putting up such a creditable performance to worry former world no.1 Maria Sharapova on Arthur Ashe Stadium at the US Open. But the Guernsey-born teenager has been ruled out of the calendar opening ASB Classic in Auckland because of a sprained ankle.
Watson, a quarterfinalist in Auckland last year and currently ranked 92nd in the world, has direct entry into the Australian Open, which begins on January 16.
But the Bradenton-based 19 year-old, currently Britain’s third ranked player behind Elena Baltacha and Anne Keothoavong, suffered the injury as she stepped up her preparations and used her Facebook page to report: “I will not be playing in Auckland because I sprained my ankle badly.
“It’s very frustrating but Auckland is one of my favorite tournaments of the year and I’m looking forward to playing it next year because I love the event.”
The 2009 US Open junior champion is hoping to return for the Moorilla International in Hobart where qualifying starts on January 6.
© “DAILY TENNIS NEWS WIRE”©
Topics: Asb Classic, Heather Watson