The unprecedented withdrawal woes at the 2017 Aegon Classic in Birmingham have continued on Sunday as the tournament had to deal with losing world #1 Angelique Kerber from the draw.
Kerber announced her withdrawal from the tournament during her pre-event press conference on Sunday morning, citing a left hamstring injury and opting to play next week’s Aegon International in Eastbourne as Wimbledon preparation instead.
Kerber’s withdrawal is the latest blow in a string of high-profile withdrawals the tournament had to suffer in recent week as more than ten players from the original entry list won’t be showing up in the Edgebaston Priory Club this week, including Maria Sharapova, last year’s champion Madison Keys, world #2 Simona Halep and several others.