By TEAM WTA
July 13 2002

Martina Hingis has been forced to withdraw from the Acura Classic (San Diego, CA), the JP Morgan Chase Open presented by Audi (Los Angeles, CA) and the Rogers AT&T Canada Cup (Montreal, Canada) due to continued rehabilitation from surgery on a left ankle injury that has sidelined her since May 2002. St. Petersburg, FL, USA - Martina Hingis has been forced to withdraw from the Acura Classic (San Diego, CA), the JP Morgan Chase Open presented by Audi (Los Angeles, CA) and the Rogers AT&T Canada Cup (Montreal, Canada) due to continued rehabilitation from surgery on a left ankle injury that has sidelined her since May 2002. Representatives for Hingis also indicated that the former World #1 would not submit an application to play in the US Open by the July 15 entry deadline.

Hingis underwent surgery on May 20 in Zurich, Switzerland to repair ligaments of her left ankle. According to Hingis’ representatives, her rehabilitation is progressing well and she hopes to resume play soon.

In 2001, Hingis reached the semifinals of San Diego and Los Angeles and withdrew from Toronto due to a left foot stress fracture sustained in San Diego. She was the #1 seed at the 2001 US Open, losing to Serena Williams in the semifinals. Her expected absence from the 2002 US Open would mark the third consecutive Grand Slam that Hingis has missed since turning professional in October 1994.