23 Players Sidelined Due to Injury and Illness to Start the 2014 Tennis Season

PETE ZIEBRON

World #30 Vasek Pospisil of Canada retired in the 2nd set of his semifinal match against Stan Wawrinka in Chennai, India due to injury.  Pete Ziebron Images

Despite a longer off-season heading into the 2014 campaign, 23 ATP and WTA tennis players either withdrew from their respective tournament before taking the court for their first match, retired during their match or were not able to compete in their next match due to injury in the first week of the season.

In three different tournaments, a semifinal match was impacted.  On the WTA side, American Vania King was not able to take the court against Peng Shuai of China in Shenzhen, China due to a right thigh injury.  At Auckland, New Zealand, a right hip injury prevented American Jamie Hampton from competing against fellow American Venus Williams in their semifinal match.  Finally, Canadian Vasek Pospisil retired at 4-6 5-5 in the 2nd set of his semifinal in Chennai, India against Swiss Stan Wawrinka due to a back strain.

Retirements and walkovers impacted 7 of the ATP matches in Chennai.  Meanwhile Brisbane's joint tournament was crippled by the loss of 3 ATP players due to injury while the WTA tourney suffered 2 retirements, the withdrawal of Caroline Wozniacki (right shoulder injury) and a walkover from Australian Ashleigh Barty, who expressed her frustration at not being able to play Maria Sharapova in the 2nd round following her win over Daniela Hantuchova due to a left abductor tear: "Obviously it's really disappointing that I can't go out there and play my match against Maria.  It's a tough decision but a smart one that we have to make.  Unfortunately I won't be able to play in Hobart next week either. So it's pretty much just I need give myself, my body, 10 to 12 days to recover and hopefully be right for the Australian Open."

Even the Hopman Cup, a popular week long exhibition in Perth, Australia featuring singles and mixed doubles match play from one ATP player and one WTA player from 8 different nations saw its schedule disturbed by 3 retirements and one walkover.

Here are the results from the 23 players that were impacted by injury and illness in the first week of the 2014 ATP & WTA season:

CHENNAI - ATP

 

Ram (USA) d. Giustino (ITA) 3-6 6-4 3-2 ret. QUALY 

Becker (GER) d. Reister (GER) 6-4 2-1 ret. 1st round

Bedene (CRO) d. Kudryavstev (RUS) 1-6 3-0 ret. 2nd round

Bhambri (IND) d. Fognini (ITA) 6-1 5-5 ret. 2nd round

Pospisil (CAN) d. Lu (TPE) w/o 2nd round

Sela (ISR) d. Youzhny (RUS) 3-1 ret. 2nd round

Wawrinka (SUI) d. Pospisil (CAN) 6-4 5-5 ret. SEMI 

 

 

BRISBANE - ATP

 

Ilhan (TUR) d. Harris (AUS) 6-1 ret. QUALY

Anderson (RSA) Main Draw Withdrawal

Krygios (AUS) Main Draw Withdrawal

 

 

QATAR - ATP

 

Bogomolov (RUS) d. Chiudinelli (SUI) w/o QUALY

 

 

SHENZHEN - WTA

 

Kichenok (UKR) d. Babos (HUN) 6-0 2-0 ret. 1st round

Peng (CHN) d. King (USA) w/o SEMI

 

BRISBANE - WTA

 

Wozniacki (DEN) Main Draw Withdrawal

Sharapova (RUS) d. Barty (AUS) w/o 2nd round

Kerber (GER) d. Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) 6-2 4-3 ret. 2nd round

Voegele (SUI) d. Lisicki (GER) w/o 2nd round

 

AUCKLAND - WTA

 

Nara (JPN) d. Cadantu (ROU) 6-1 4-0 ret. 1st round

V. Williams (USA) d. Hampton (USA) w/o SEMI

 

HOPMAN CUP - PERTH (ATP & WTA)

 

Panfil (POL) d. Seppi (ITA) 6-4 2-2 ret. Day 1 ATP

Bouchard (CAN) d. Pennetta (ITA) 4-0 ret.  Day 5 WTA

Stepanek (CZE) d. Isner (USA) w/o  Day 6 ATP

Kvitova (CZE) d. Stephens (USA) 5-3 ret. Day 6 WTA