Second seed Carla Suarez Navarro has ended her season, after withdrawing from the WTA Elite Trophy in Zhuhai due to a wrist injury.
The world No.11 has struggled with her wrist since injuring it during the Kremlin Cup in Moscow two weeks ago. Suarez Navarro was forced to withdraw during her second round match against Daria Gavrilova at the tournament.
“I have to withdraw because I have this pain in my right wrist. I’ve had this pain from two weeks ago, which forced me to retire from my last tournament, Moscow. I tried every means to make it possible to play this tournament, but being healthy is the top priority.” She said in a statement.
“I feel really sad because this tournament is a really good tournament and we have a really good draw here. I wish all the other players will enjoy the tournament. I’ll try to recover well first. I wish the tournament all the best.”
Following the withdrawal, Suarez Navarro misses out on ending her season ranked in the world’s top 10 for the first time. Earlier this year the Spaniard peaked at a ranking high of 6th after winning her first Premier title at the Qatar Open. Closing her season with a win-loss of 39-21, the 28-year-old also reached three WTA semifinals on the tour. At the grand slam tournaments she reached the fourth round or better at all of them for the first time in her career.
Suarez Navarro will be replaced by Timea Babos in the Zhuhai tournament. Babos will play in the Camellia Group against Zhang Shuai and Timea Bacsinszky. The 12-player draw is split into four groups with the winner of each group progressing to the semifinals.
This year’s Zhuhai Elite Trophy features former grand slam champions Petra Kvitova and Sam Stosur. Heading the field is Johanna Konta, who recently won the Most Improved Player of the year honour at the WTA awards. During this season Konta became the first British woman to break the top 10 since Jo Durie in 1984.
WTA Elite Trophy Groups
Azalea Group
Johanna Konta
Sam Stosur
Caroline Garcia
Camellia Group
Timea Babos (replaces Suarez Navarro)
Timea Bacsinszky
Zhang Shuai
Peony Group
Petra Kvitova
Roberta Vinci
Barbora Strycova
Rose Group
Elina Svitolina
Elena Vesnina
Kiki Bertens
