Stanislas Wawrinka to miss Rotterdam tournament because of leg injury

Rotterdam, Feb 5 (IANS): Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka has withdrawn from next week’s ABN Amro World Tennis Tournament here.

The reigning Australian Open champion is recovering from a leg injury and will be replaced by Russian World No. 43 Denis Istomin. Last Friday Wawrinka was active for Switzerland in the Davis Cup tie against Serbia but wants to rest now, reports Xinhua.

“Unfortunately I am not able to play in the next tournaments in Montpellier and Rotterdam. Hopefully I will be back on the courts very soon. I was looking forward to playing in Rotterdam but I am not fit enough to get a good result,” Wawrinka said Tuesday.

Tournament director Richard Krajicek was able to lure World No. 3 Wawrinka to Rotterdam before his triumph in Melbourne.

“For sure it is unfortunate for us that Stan is advised to take rest during our tournament. Fortunately we have six players out of the top 12 left, still guaranteeing an exciting week of tennis,” Krajicek said.

Juan Martin del Potro (Argentina, No. 4), Tomas Berdych (Czech Republic, No. 7), Richard Gasquet (France, No. 9), Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (France, No. 10), Milos Raonic (Canada, No. 11) and Tommy Haas (Germany, No. 12) are now the highest-ranked players who will be present in Rotterdam next week.