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This is the countdown to the new year — and the count-up of players withdrawing from early-year events. Sadly, you can count out Vera Zvonareva. The shoulder injury that cost her so badly last year has now forced her out of Auckland and the Australian Open. That means she will be falling out of the Top Hundred. The good news is, she should get an injury ranking — if and when she manages to come back. No word on that yet.
The title at the $50K Ankara Challenger, the last substantial event of 2012, went to qualifier Ana Savic, who beat #2 seed Monica Puig 5-7 6-3 6-4. It’s Savic’s first title at a high-tier Challenger; she withdrew from the final at the Trnava $50K event in September.