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Still sidelined Kournikova pulls out of Eastbourne tournament
Updated: Wednesday June 13, 2001 4:20 PM
EASTBOURNE, England (AP) -- Anna Kournikova looks almost certain to miss Wimbledon after pulling out of yet another tournament, next week's grass court event at Eastbourne. The Russian star hasn't played since sustaining a stress fracture in her left foot in March. She missed the entire clay court season, including the French Open, and has already withdrawn from two events on grass, the DFS Classic in Birmingham and an exhibition tournament in London. "I always enjoy playing at Eastbourne so I am really sorry that my foot has not healed quickly enough to allow me to play there again this year," Kournikova said on Tuesday through her management company. Kournikova has not played since losing to Amelie Mauresmo in the quarterfinals of the Gaz de France in February. It was after that she sustained the foot injury. Phil de Picciotto from Kournikova's management company Octagon said her return to competition was being judged on a week-to-week basis. But the fact that Kournikova has been inactive for so long increases the likelihood that she will miss the grass court Grand Slam championship at the All England Club which starts June 25, the week after the Eastbourne tournament. The 20-year-old also pulled out of a promotion for a sports bra scheduled for Friday at Eastbourne and, unless her fitness improves and she finds somewhere to practice on grass, she stands little chance of making the draw for Wimbledon. "We're disappointed Anna won't be here this year but we fully understand the reasons why and we wish her a quick recovery and we hope to see her back at Eastbourne in 2002," said Eastbourne tournament director John Feaver. Kournikova, one of the sport's most marketable players, has never won a singles title. She reached the Wimbledon semifinals in 1997, but lost in the second round last year. She has not played since losing to Amelie Mauresmo in the quarterfinals of the Gaz de France in February.
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