Top-seeded Karolina Pliskova has opted out of the WTA Prague Open 2019 because of a viral illness.
Pliskova, who has had an excellent run this season having won a title already, said she had been struggling with pain throughout this month because of which she hasn’t been able to train. As a result, she has had to pull out of the tournament.
Speaking on her official website, Pliskova wrote she was in two minds playing at the Stuttgart Open last week and by the time she had taken to court, she expected herself to be in major strife but ended up fighting and playing better than she had thought.
Barbora Strycova will now join the Prague Open as the ninth seed and she will take on Mona Barthel instead of Pliskova.
Before starting off her clay-court swing, Pliskova had made it to two WTA competition finals, including the Brisbane International at the beginning of the year and the Miami Open earlier in March. She won the title in Brisbane while losing to Ash Barty in Miami.
The Czech player also made it as far as the semi-final of the Australian Open where she went down to the eventual winner Naomi Osaka at that stage.
No play was possible on Monday at the Prague Open due to rain and Anastasija Sevastova, Wang Qiang and Danielle Collins will be among those in action on Tuesday. Also withdrawing from the tournament is the eighth seeded Markéta Vondroušová.
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