Injured Ivanovic out of Hopman Cup
Serbia's Ana Ivanovic has made a shock withdrawal from the Hopman Cup because of a stomach injury.
Belgium will now play in tomorrow's tournament final.
Hopman Cup tournament director Paul McNamee said Ivanovic had pain in her abdominal area during the singles clash with Belgium's Justine Henin yesterday.
Ivanovic also received treatment on a sore treatment during the match, which she lost 4-6 3-6.
Serbia had qualified for the final of the mixed teams tournament by winning two of their three preliminary Hopman Cup ties.
However, their loss during the event was to the Belgians.
It was unclear whether Ivanovic would be able to play as scheduled in the Sydney International next week.
Only last night Ivanovic spoke with her teammate Novak Djokovic about their desire to win the Hopman Cup for Serbia.
She also spoke about the growing confidence in her game, despite another loss to Henin - her sixth in a row.
"I guess I was a little bit negative on the court today, and that’s something I have to work on for next matches," Ivanovic said.
"Overall I still saw lots of positives in the last couple of matches, so I just have to focus on that and have to try to take it a little bit easier on myself sometimes."
There is a growing wave of support for tennis in Serbia following the country's triumph in last year's Davis Cup.
And the timing of the Ivanovic couldn't have come at a a worse time for Serbia, which today celebrates Christmas.
Ivanovic tried to train on Friday morning before realising the extent of the injury. Scans later revealed damage in the stomach area.
Under the Hopman Cup rules the second-placed team in Group A can replace the top team should it be unable to make the final. Belgium's Henin and Ruben Bemelmans finished second behind Serbia in the group on a countback of sets won during the tournament.
The other team in the final has yet to be decided although the US team of Bethanie Mattek-Sands and John Isner are expected to qualify from Group B.
It is the latest injury shock to hit the Hopman Cup. The run started with the withdrawal of No.1 drawcard Serena Williams, who will also miss the Australian Open.
Kazakhstan's Yaroslava Shvedova pulled out of the event after hurting her knee in the first match. She is expected to be sidelined for five weeks.
And Italy's Francesca Schiavone pulled out of her battle with France's Kristina Mladenovic today at 4-4 in the first set because of a thigh strain.
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