Tennis: Petrova pulls out of Classic with illness

Illness has forced Russian world No 11 Nadia Petrova to withdraw from January's ASB Classic. The 26-year-old is in hospital with viral meningitis and will not be travelling to Auckland.

Tournament director Brenda Perry said while she was disappointed to lose such a high-profile player, Petrova's health was a much more important issue.

"It's a shame Nadia will not be coming as I know she was looking forward to it, but in this situation she is obviously in need of medical care and our thoughts go out to her."

Petrova would have been the second seed. World No 4 Elena Dementieva will be the top seed, with 12th-ranked Danish teenager Caroline Wozniack replacing Petrova as the second seed. The tournament runs from January 5 to 10.