Sultry tennis star Anna Kournikova has pulled out of next week’s US Open championships due to a stress fracture in her left foot, the same injury which sidelined her for five months earlier this year. A German doctor tending to the Russian beauty now says she should stay off the court for at least three months to allow her foot to heal properly.
“It will take at least another three months before Anna can play in a tournament again,” says Dr Hubert Hoerterer. “Only when the stress fracture is fully healed can Anna play tennis again without any pain. Anything else is nonsense because the injury could be exacerbated again.”
Anna had returned to professional tennis in late July for the Acura Classic, her first tournament since February. Hoerterer says he warned Anna not to chance re-injuring her foot, but her eagerness to return proved too strong a temptation.
“I am so excited to be back playing and competing every day,” she said in July. “I love playing tennis. This is what I do and I can’t wait to get back on the court.”
The Omega watch spokeswoman lost her first round singles match to Nicole Pratt of Australia, however, she and her doubles partner Martina Hingis made it to the finals of the Acura Classic before losing to Cara Black and Elena Likhovtseva.
Anna had been seeded 19th before pulling out of The US Open. The famed tournament, featuring top-seeds Hingis and Jennifer Capriati, kicks off on Monday.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
