Safarova Buttocks Force Her to Withdraw

Medibank International
2008-01-08
By Ben Rassieur


Justine Henin’s first match of the season would be delayed another day.  She received a walk over win from Lucie Safarova.  Safarova is suffering from a strained buttock.  It’s unclear whether this injury will affect her ability to play the Australian Open.  But the good news is she appears to be fully recovered from the stomach virus she caught last week in Perth.

The news had to have been disappointing for Henin.  That’s now one less match she’ll have to prepare for the Australian Open.  And everyone knows she wants to do well there after missing the Open last year.  She’ll have at most three matches before Melbourne, and that’s if she makes the final.  She also won’t have much competition in the next round.  She’ll play the winner of Kaia Kanepi and Sofia Arvidsson, both qualifiers ranked 73 and 97 respectively.