Victoria Azarenka, Eugenie Bouchard worries for Hong Kong Open organisers after losing defending champion Sabine Lisicki
Canadian suffers repeat of concussion symptoms, while German succumbs to knee injury
Organisers of the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open are keeping their fingers crossed Canadian star Eugenie Bouchard recovers from a lingering concussion in time for the tournament after losing defending champion Sabine Lisicki through injury.
And there was another worrying sight as former world number one Victoria Azarenka became the latest player to suffer an injury blow.
I will rest in Wuhan for the next few days to determine how I progress
After Bouchard's withdrawal from the Wuhan Open on Monday, two-time major-winner Azarenka joined her on Tuesday, saying she picked up a thigh injury in training.
“It’s always not easy to make the decision. You know, I don’t know if it was the right way to play that long because I started feeling it right in the beginning of the match,” Azarenka said.
German Lisicki has confirmed she expects to miss the rest of the 2015 season because of a knee problem, while Bouchard was a late withdrawal from Wuhan on Monday.
“We understand Sabine is injured. We wish her a speedy recovery and look forward to her returning to Hong Kong in the future,” said Hong Kong Tennis Association chief executive Chris Lai, speaking before Azarenka's injury.
Lai said they had been in contact with Bouchard and she was still keen to come to Hong Kong. “We will closely monitor the situation,” he said.
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Lisicki, the 2013 Wimbledon finalist, said on her Facebook page: “I’ve been struggling with a knee injury before and during the US Open.
“[Doctors] have tried everything in order to get me ready for the Asian swing. But unfortunately my knee is not ready and I will not compete at tournaments this season.”
She has been treated by famous Munich-based doctor Hans-Wilhelm Mueller-Wohlfahrt, who looks after the German football team and athletics stars, including Usain Bolt.
“I have great support from my team and we are eager to get me back on the court asap. At the latest at start of next season.”
Having pulled out of the grand slam with concussion after slipping in the locker room, the symptoms returned during practice after arriving in Wuhan.
“I am frustrated and disappointed that I won’t be able to compete at the Wuhan Open this week,” she said.
“Having reached the final last year, I was very much looking forward to playing here. I travelled to Wuhan with the intention of playing.
“Unfortunately, my concussion symptoms came back during practice on Saturday and it would not be safe for me to go on court today.
Hong Kong-bound Venus Williams, though had no problems in notching her 700th career win with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Germany's Julia Goerges.
The Hong Kong Open will be played at Victoria Park from October 10-18.
