Sunday, July 05, 2009

Kournikova out of WTT Tour

A wrist injury will keep Anna Kournikova off the World TeamTennis court this summer.

Kournikova, who was scheduled to start play for the St. Louis Aces on July 6 in Philadelphia, has been diagnosed with severe tenosynovitis in her left wrist.

Kournikova injured her wrist while practicing for her seventh season of World TeamTennis and has been undergoing daily neuromuscular and physical therapy. The injury has not responded to therapy or a series of cortisone shots from earlier this week, so she was advised by her doctor, Miami Heat team physician Dr. Harlan Selesnick, to continue rehab and not play her matches next week in order to avoid permanent long term damage.

Kournikova will still be travelling with her team and supporting them for their matches in Philadelphia (July 6), Washington, D.C. (July 8), Springfield, Mo. (July 10) and St. Louis (July 11). She will fulfill her obligations by participating in kids’ clinics, signing autographs and meeting with fans, media and sponsors.

"I was really looking forward to playing WTT for the 7th year in a row,” said Kournikova. “So I am extremely disappointed that I won't be able to compete this year. As an athlete it’s always hard to deal with an injury, but I am still very excited to travel with my team and to fulfill my commitments surrounding the matches. I will continue to work on my rehabilitation and I am looking forward to next year’s WTT season."

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