Wimbledon finalist Eugenie Bouchard has left the new WTA event in Hong Kong high and dry without a draw card player after pulling out of this week’s tournament; the Canadian, ranked eighth, cited fatigue.
“I am really disappointed not to be able to play this year,” Bouchard said in a statement. “I had been very much looking forward to it but unfortunately my medical team has advised me that I need to take the next two weeks off from competition to rest and recover after a very long season.
“I wish the tournament every success especially in its first year and look forward to playing for the great fans of Hong Kong in the future.”
Bouchard suffered with illness in her fourth-round US Open loss last Monday to Ekaterina Makarova as doubts on her Hong Kong appearance first began to surface. In addition, China’s Peng Shuai, the other box office pillar for the tournament, also withdrew after collapsing with heat illness in her aborted 7-6 (7-1), 4-3 semi-final loss to Caroline Wozniacki.
Bouchard was seen on Twitter around New York in the days since she lost, posting pictures of herself riding the subway and also psyching up for Fashion Week in Gotham.
“We are disappointed that Bouchard will not play in our inaugural year. But of course her health comes first and we wish her a full recovery and hope to see her in Hong Kong in the future,” said tournament director Kenneth Low.
Peng will at least make the effort and is due to front up in Hong Kong. “”We are happy to announce that Peng will however turn up in Hong Kong. She will not be able to play but she will meet all her other media and social obligations,” said Low.
Germany’s Sabine Lisicki now takes the spotlight after coming in on a wild card entry.
Topics: Caroline Wozniacki, Eugenie Bouchard, Hong Kong, Peng Shuai, Sabine Lisicki, Tennis, Wta
@geniebouchard IS OUT OF #HONGKONG WHILE #PENG IS THERE, BUT NOT PLAYING #TENNIS- http://t.co/2yAJiiUz5C #bouchard #usopen #WTA