Percy896's Tennis Forum

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To the dismay of tournament directors, the world's undisputed top two players Vanessa Child and Yodavitch pulled out of the Federer Masters Cup earlier today.

World number 1 Vanessa Child said a left ankle injury has forced her to pull out. Child has won the last three Grand Slams and won four Tier 1 titles this year. She has kept her number 1 ranking for the entire year, despite playing fewer tournaments than normal. Child has only played three tournaments since winning Wimbledon, and has not played since the US Open. She gave an interview after announcing her withdrawal:

1. Is this ankle injury serious? Is this what made you pull out of the Vaidisova Grand Prix a few weeks ago, or did it just come up?

Vanessa Child:
Yes it's been the same ankle since then. It just hurts too much to play and I don't want to further injure it.

2. Many people have criticised you about the very few events you have played this year, especially after Wimbledon. How do you respond to this?

Vanessa Child:
Why are they criticizing me? Obviously it worked out fine after Wimbledon, considering I won the U.S. Open. I don't know what all the fuss is always about. Who are these people?

3. Missing the Federer Masters Cup will probably have a huge effect on your ranking? How do you feel about this?

Vanessa Child:
I know I will lose a lot of points from missing it, but in the end I know as does the world who is the real year-end #1. Rankings can only tell you so much.

4. Who do you think now has the best chance to win this title?

Vanessa Child:
N_E_A, no doubt. N_E_A vs. PSALT in the finals. I will be watching every match from home.

Yodavitch, the world number 2, has enjoyed his best ever year. He won his second Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, and has reached two more Grand Slam finals. He has been the only player to come close to Vanessa Child this year, even coming within distance of displacing her at the top of the rankings. He won all three Tier 1 titles in the summer hardcourt season. With Child withdrawing, he had a great chance to finish the year as the world number 1. In his interview, he said:

1. This back injury must be getting pretty serious now. Has it gotten better or worse since the Ljubicic International, and how long do you think it will last?

Yodavitch:
It really has gotten pretty bad now. Apparently it's the same injury that took me out for most of Season 3, which is not a good thing. I don't know how much longer the pain will persist but I am certainly in no condition to play right now.

2. Your main rival this year Vanessa Child also pulled out, so you had a great chance to get to number 1 in the rankings. How important would that have been for you?

Yodavitch:
Well I think I may regain the #1 ranking because she is the defending champion, but of course that's not the ideal way to do so. I want to actually beat her in a slam and earn that #1 ranking. It's too bad she's also not playing; not having the top two players in the world for the YEC isn't really fair for anyone, especially the fans, and for that I am sorry.

3. You're best showing at this event was a SF four years ago. In total, you have only qualified twice in your career. Is this event important to you?

Yodavitch:
This event is important to everyone I think; it's the year-end championships! I am really disappointed to be missing it after my best year yet. I just really need to make sure my back will be ready when it comes time to defend my Australian Open title. But next year I will be here, I promise!

Child and Yodavitch were the best two players this year, sharing all of the Grand Slams (playing two of the finals). In the race rankings for this season, they finished over 1000 points ahead of the third player, NEA. Now Child and Yodavitch have withdrawn, the year's third best player NEA takes over as top seed. The top 12 players in the race were:

1. Vanessa Child- 3963
2. Yodavitch- 3957
3. Not_Even_Amateur- 2935
4. Jennacourt- 2521
5. PSALT- 2050
6. x.doublea- 1991
7. Tricatrina- 1898
8. Dav6789- 1849
9. Stroganoff- 1826
10. J-man- 1722
11. Bizet- 1558
12. Stevos14- 1526

Now, Stroganoff and J-man will replace Child and Yodavitch in Geneva.