Viral illness keeps Caroline Wozniacki out of Dubai event while three seeds tumble out

Former world No 1 Caroline Wozniacki has for the second week in a row been forced to pull out of a tournament due to illness.
The Dane hasn’t played any competitive tennis since the Australian Open as she withdrew from last week’s Qatar Open due to a viral illness and the same issue is preventing her from playing at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
“It sucks. I’ve gotten ready to play these two weeks (Doha and Dubai) where I usually play well,” she said.
The 2018 Australian Open champion added: “If I can’t even play at a reasonable level, there’s no reason for me to go out there and just play one set – I want to go out there and I want to win.”
She was replaced in the draw by Polona Hercog, but the Slovenian lost 6-3, 6-2 against Stefanie Voegele of Switzerland.
Julia Goerges from Germany was the biggest casualty as the 13th seed suffered a 6-4, 7-5 defeat at the hands of American Alison Riske.
Straight sets!@Riske4rewards beats Goerges 6-4, 7-5 at @DDFTennis ! pic.twitter.com/coizSn2Zqc
— WTA (@WTA) February 18, 2019
The 15th seeded Anett Kontaveit also fell at the first hurdle as the Estonian was dumped out by Shuai Zhang with the Chinese player picking up the 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 victory.
Just days after winning the Qatar Open, 16th seed Elise Mertens was brought back down to earth as she was beaten 5-7, 6-4, 7-5 by Chinese qualifier Zhu Lin.
Zhu Lin completes the upset over Mertens at the @DDFTennis!
Sealing the win 5-7, 6-4, 7-5 in close to three hours! pic.twitter.com/nGa8KRJ9mQ
— WTA (@WTA) February 18, 2019
Former French Open winner Jelena Ostapenko also crashed out as she lost 6-4, 6-0 against American Jennifer Brady, but 14th seed Caroline Garcia is still in the draw as the Frenchwoman beat Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-2, 6-0.
More from Tennis365:
-
-
Tennis betting preview: 2/1 Dominic Thiem looks rock solid in Rio
-
Who is most likely to take a 2019 men’s Grand Slam from Djokovic, Nadal, and Federer?
-
Johnny Nic on match-fixing: Tennis needs to be as corrupt as the corrupters
-
Roger Federer the doubles player: Did you know he won a ‘bizarre’ title with Marat Safin?
-
QUIZ! Test your knowledge on the ATP Tour’s ace record-holders
-
Latest
-
Wimbledon
Alex De Minaur joins girlfriend Katie Boulter in Wimbledon third round
The 20-year-old won the first set on Court One but fell to a 5-7 7-6 (0) 6-2 6-3 defeat.
-
Wimbledon
Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon: ‘Every day is a challenge’
Rafael Nadal is prepared to grind his way into the second week at SW19.
-
News
Iga Swiatek made to sweat to progress at Wimbledon and extend streak
Karolina Pliskova was the big seed to exit the women’s draw on Thursday while Kirsten Flipkens bowed out.
-
Wimbledon
Nick Kyrgios has the belief he can win Wimbledon
Nick Kyrgios believes in himself even if nobody else does.
-
Wimbledon
Exclusive – John Lloyd on the key reason for the stunning form of Katie Boulter and British players at Wimbledon
The stunning success of British players at Wimbledon contunued as Katie Boulter, Heather Watson and Liam Broady all won.
-
Wimbledon
Heather Watson ‘pretty relaxed’ as she looks to break new ground at Wimbledon
This is Heather Watson’s fourth time in the Wimbledon third round.
-
Wimbledon
Liam Broady hails ‘amazing feeling’ after beating Diego Schwartzman for biggest win of his career
The British No 5 lost 11 games in a row but fought back to down the 12th seed.
-
Wimbledon
Kyle Edmund set to end 18-month injury nightmare with Wimbledon mixed doubles appearance
The former world No 14 will play mixed doubles in SW19.
-
Wimbledon
Wimbledon Centre Court delight for Katie Boulter and home crowd as she upsets Karolina Pliskova
Katie Boulter reached the third round of Wimbledon for the first time in her career.
-
Wimbledon
John McEnroe with strong words for Emma Raducanu – ‘Back up the hype’
John McEnroe once again not holding back in his views of Emma Raducanu.