(Reuters) – World number eight Karolina Muchova has withdrawn from the WTA Finals in Cancun due to a right wrist injury and will be replaced by first alternate Maria Sakkari of Greece, tour officials said on Tuesday.
Czech Muchova was the eighth player to qualify for the season-ending tournament after reaching the Cincinnati final and the U.S. Open semi-final round, losing to American Coco Gauff on both occasions.
“Together with the team and doctors we tried everything till the last moment to resolve my wrist injury,” Muchova said in a statement.
“Unfortunately, the time needed for the recovery is longer than we would’ve hoped for and therefore I had to make this unpleasant decision.”
As a result, the ninth-ranked Sakkari will feature in her third straight WTA Finals at this year’s event, which starts on Sunday, after reaching the semi-finals a year ago.
(Reporting by Amy Tennery in New York; editing by Clare Fallon)
