Noooooooooo. This is such a shame. Get better soon Ana.
SERBIA'S Ana Ivanovic has been forced today to withdraw from tomorrow’s Hyundai Hopman Cup Final on account of sustaining an abdomen injury, resulting in Belgium - as the second placed nation – being promoted into the title clash.
The Serb sustained the injury during her match last night against Belgium’s Justine Henin and a scan this afternoon ruled Ivanovic out of play, at least for tomorrow.
Tournament rules allow for the second placed team from the Group to take their place in the Final meaning that Henin and her partner Ruben Bemelmans will now replace Ivanovic and Novak Djokovic and take on either the USA or France, depending on results today, in tomorrow's Final.
''Ana Ivanovic has had to withdraw from the tournament, she sustained an injury against Justine Henin and had a scan today and she’s not going to be able to play at the Final,'' Tournament Director Paul McNamee said.
''Obviously it's a blow for Ana and Novak and it’s a shame they’re not going to be able to take their place at the Final. Under the tournament rules, it’s very clear in the Final. If a player cannot play then the team that is second place in the Group goes to the final so as a consequence, Belgium will be playing the Final tomorrow.''
McNamee couldn’t comment on the seriousness of Ivanovic's injury, but what was clear when she woke up this morning was that it was enough to not allow her to team with Djokovic in tomorrow's Final.
''It happened during the Henin match and she was still OK in the mixed apparently. She warmed up, but then obviously felt it this morning and also during practice she couldn’t continue,'' McNamee said.
''She’s pretty shattered because today is her Christmas Day too so not a great day for it to happen. This afternoon, we just got the results back and it was clear she can’t play tomorrow, very clear.”
Henin and Bemelmans will now face either the USA team of Bethanie Mattek-Sands and John Isner, or France's Kristina Mladenovic and Ruben Bemelmans.
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