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Kirilenko withdraws from Brisbane International

Kirilenko withdraws from Brisbane International

AAP Sunday 4 January 2009 6 Comments »

Seventh-seeded Russian Maria Kirilenko has withdrawn from the Brisbane International due to illness, postponing the start of the first round of the inaugural tournament.

World No. 29 Kirilenko was due to kick off the tournament with a centre court match against Queenslander Sam Stosur to christen the 5500-seat Pat Rafter Arena.

But tournament organisers were told shortly before the scheduled start on Sunday morning the Russian had pulled out with an illness.

As the tournament was yet to officially start, the draw has been altered to see the next highest ranked player not to be seeded, Japanese veteran Ai Sugiyama (No.31), take Kirilenko’s position in the draw.

Sugiyama’s match with leading Australian Stosur, ranked 52nd in the world, is expected to be played either Sunday afternoon or Monday.

The extra place in the 32-strong women’s draw is now set to go to a lucky loser from qualifying.

Australia’s second highest ranked men’s player, Chris Guccione, who was overlooked for a wildcard to the tournament, will play a qualifying match against American Amer Delic to open Sunday’s proceedings on Rafter Arena.

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  • nathan McLean

    I personally think Sam should be able to go straight through to the 2nd round. We need an Aussie through because it doesn’t look like anyone else is gonna do any better in their draws.

  • Peter Sumpton

    What are you thinking Nathan? If our players can’t win, that’s the way it goes. We can’t change the rules just to suit ourselves. Have some confidence in Sam taking that match anyway

  • julian

    I disagree sam should play a first round match otherwise it wouldn’t be fair on everyone else. :)

  • A.K.

    :(

  • Vince Dale

    well. nathan was just afraid that sam will lose in the future because sam just lost her final match against kirilenko on last year’s korean open. LOL
    Im pretty disappointed about the news.

  • jarrod

    kirilenko v stosur would have been a tough match to win first up,sugiyama is alot better match up for sam stosur.It wil give her some confidence to match it with the better players getting a match under her belt,go sam!

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