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Jumping ship

Kafelnikov withdraws from German Open

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Posted: Friday April 30, 1999 05:20 PM

The withdrawal of Yevgeny Kafelnikov leaves four top-ten players in the field. Gary M. Prior/Allsport

HAMBURG, Germany (AP) -- Yevgeny Kafelnikov, who just took over the No. 1 ranking, on Friday became the latest player to withdraw from next week's German Open.

The Russian withdrew with back problems, leaving just four Top-10 players in a $2.45 million Super-9 tournament -- the group of events second in importance and ranking points to the grand slams.

Slovakian Karol Kucera also withdrew with a hand injury and Spain's Alex Corretja dropped out with a blood illness.

The only Top-10 players left in the draw are Richard Krajicek of the Netherlands, Spain's Carlos Moya, Britain's Tim Henman and Chile's Marcelo Rios.

The event's management also couldn't get Boris Becker, a huge draw in Germany, intereted in entering. The former No. 1 is in the midst of farewell tour before retiring in July.

"Hamburg is not in his plans -- I won't say anything else about it," said tournament director Gunter Sanders, whose event has historically been plagued by big name dropouts.

 

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