BERLIN, May 5 (UPI) -- Martina Hingis of Switzerland, who is fourth in the WTA rankings, has withdrawn from the $1.22 million German Open claycourt event because of a pulled ligament in her left foot.
Hingis, who captured the 1999 German Open title, lost to current world No. 1 Venus Williams of the United States in the Hamburg semifinals on Saturday.
"I am very disappointed that I cannot play in Berlin, but I had problems all week with my left foot," said Hingis, who withdrew from the event in Berlin late Sunday. "I had to take strong painkillers in order to be able to play at all. I absolutely must have a medical checkup in order to find the cause."
The 21-year-old Hingis also was sidelined for three months after undergoing surgery on torn tendons in her right ankle on Oct. 14, 2001.
The former world No. 1 has won 40 career WTA titles, including the Sydney and Tokyo crowns earlier this year, but her ability to beat the game's big hitters has been suspect for some time.
