The world number 11 Nadia Petrova has been forced to withdraw from next month's ASB tennis classic in Auckland as she's in hospital with viral meningitis.
The 26-year-old Russian is also in doubt for the Australian Open.
The ASB classic tournament director Brenda Perry says while it's disappointing to lose such a high-profile player, Petrova's health is a much more serious issue.
The field still features three top 20 players, including the world number four and Olympic champion Elena Dementieva and rising star, Caroline Wozniacki who's ranked 12th.
It also includes couple of talented teens in Nicole Vaidisova and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and New Zealand's Marina Erakvoic.
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