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Novotna withdraws from A&P Classic
Posted: Thursday October 14, 1999 08:53 PM
MAHWAH, N.J. (AP) -- For the second straight year, the A&P Tennis Classic lost one of its star attractions on the eve of the tournament when Jana Novotna withdrew on Tuesday. Novotna, the 1998 Wimbledon champion, sent her regrets just 24 hours before she was to play an opening-round match against Chanda Rubin. Novotna said she needed more time to rest the right ankle she injured in the quarterfinals of the French Open. She subsequently played at Wimbledon and reached the quarterfinals there before losing to eventual champion Lindsay Davenport. "After seeing Jana's injury in Paris we can all understand she still needs time to heal her ankle," tournament owner and director John Korff said in a statement. Korff had similar comments last year when Russian teen-ager Anna Kournikova withdrew before the tournament because of a thumb injury. She showed up at the tournament and mingled with the crowd as a goodwill gesture. Former UCLA All American Jane Chi, who is ranked No. 71 in the world, will replace Novotna. Chi has made two other appearances here, losing in the second round last year in the accompanying USTA Challenger event. French Open champion and Wimbledon runnerup Steffi Graf headlines this year's event that also includes Kournikova, Jennifer Capriati and Amanda Coetzer.
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