Sport : Tennis

KANEPI TO MISS WIMBLEDON

18th June 2012, 11:44am

Kaia Kanepi: Foot problem

Kaia Kanepi: Foot problem

World number 16 Kaia Kanepi has pulled out of Wimbledon, handing Britain's Heather Watson an automatic place in the main draw.

Estonian Kanepi, who reached the quarter-finals at SW19 in 2010, withdrew due to a foot injury.

British number three Watson, ranked 111 in the world, had been given a wild card by organisers but does not now require it and will play in her home grand slam as of right.

She joins Anne Keothavong and Elena Baltacha as British women to earn automatic entry.

Agnes Szavay (back) has also been forced out. She is replaced by Lesia Tsurenko, while Bojana Jovanovski comes in for Andrea Petkovic, who confirmed her withdrawal earlier in the week due to an ankle injury.

In men's singles, Pablo Cuevas is replaced by Vasek Pospisil, while Robin Soderling's withdrawal has been confirmed. The Swede has been suffering from glandular fever and is yet to play this season. Blaz Kavcic takes his place.

Watson's bump up into the main draw means there are now three wild cards for the ladies' singles still to be awarded - a boost for Briton Tara Moore who claimed an impressive win in Birmingham this week - and one men's one. They are likely to be announced on Friday.

Wimbledon starts on June 25.

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