Kournikova pulls out of Hamburg, Berlin events
( 2002-04-26 11:28 ) (7 )

Russian Anna Kournikova has pulled out of the Hamburg women's tennis tournament starting on Monday and of the German Open the following week in Berlin.

Organisers said on Thursday that she had refused wild cards for both events and had decided to play smaller tournaments in Bol, Croatia, and Warsaw instead.

"I am very sorry for the Berlin fans because I like it there a lot but after a long injury break I don't feel fit enough to take part in such a demanding tournament," she said in a statement sent to the organisers of the German Open.

Defending champion and world number one Venus Williams will be the main attraction in Hamburg with Martina Hingis, Kim Clijsters, Justine Henin and Jelena Dokic also in the draw.