Tennis: Fourth star withdraws from Heineken Open

Tommy Robredo of Spain has withdrawn from the Heineken Open. Photo / Getty Images.

In yet another blow for the Heineken Open Tommy Robredo has pulled out through injury.

The Spanish fifth seed sustained an adductor injury on Monday, forcing his withdrawal from the tournament and today's centre court match against Kiwi wildcard Michael Venus.

Venus will now face Frenchman Lucas Pouille, world number 136, who was a first round lucky loser.

"Unfortunately Tommy has injured himself in preparations to play here which has resulted in him needing to withdraw from the tournament," said tournament director Karl Budge.

"The lucky loser comes in given that Tommy was a seed and received a bye in the first round and therefore has not played a match. As a result, instead of getting a walk-over he is replaced with a lucky loser.

"Obviously very disappointing for us, we would have loved to have seen Tommy out there. He is someone that has a great reputation on tour for playing hard and competing and I know he wouldn't be withdrawing today if he didn't have to."

Robredo fronted media and expressed his disappointment at withdrawing and admitted he is now in doubt to take part in the Australian Open.

"Well, obviously a little bit," Robredo said. "I arrived here on Friday, my intention was to play here and prepare myself for a great tournament. Two days ago I was in the gym working hard and then practicing and suddenly I felt something in my abductor.

"I have been one and a half days without practice and trying to recover to play here but I'm not ready to play a match."

The exit of Robredo - world number 17 - leaves the tournament without a fourth star following the earlier withdrawals of defending champion John Isner, David Ferrer and popular Frenchman Gael Monfils last week.

The quartet of setbacks leaves the Heineken Open with three top-20 players, second seed Ernest Gulbis (13), third seed Robert Bautista Agut (15) and Kevin Anderson (16).