Top seed out of indoor open

No 1 seed Leela Beattie has pulled out of the Otago Indoor Open.

The 24-year-old cited an ankle injury for missing the tournament, which gets under way at the Edgar Centre on Friday.

She will be replaced in the main draw by Otago's Libby Scott.

Scott was initially scheduled to play second seed Elys Ventura in a tough opening match, so that clash will now have to wait.

Beattie's absence strips the tournament of a class player. She has strung together a quite remarkable winning sequence.

She is unbeaten in Auckland interclub games since 2014. During that time she has won more than 50 singles matches.

''It is disappointing and Leela herself is very disappointed about having to pull out,'' tournament director Ahmad Abdul-Rahman said.

''She has had [an ankle complaint] for a wee while but now she feels it is becoming more of a problem.

''She has had medical advice not to play.''

The tournament still promises to deliver some wonderful matches.

It is arguably the strongest field assembled for the tournament in the past 20 years. With 68 competitors, it is the biggest in the South Island and has attracted some of the country's best players.

All four finalists from last year have returned, which is a coup for the organisers.

Ventura is the national junior champion and shapes as an early women's favourite.

Scott is the best of the locals. She has returned from a tennis scholarship in the United States and should be competitive.

Defending women's champion Megan Rogers (Auckland) is back for another shot, while beaten finalist Tessa McCann (Ashburton) is also returning.

The men's tournament will be competitive as well. Cantabrians Ed Batt, Liam Adams and Jamie Garbett are the top three seeds, and Auckland's Charlie Tomlinson rounds out the top four.

Defending champion James Watt (Timaru) and beaten finalist Thomas Hartono, from Queenstown, are both returning.

Watt, who is 2.07m tall and only 18 years old, will play Batt in the first round.

Otago No 1 and wildcard Mitchell Sizemore plays Garbett first up, while Otago representatives Carlos Reid and Ryan Eggers will have to get through qualifying to make the main draw.

The tournament gets under way on Friday afternoon with qualifying games for the top grade and the first round of division 2.

The quarterfinals and semifinals will be played on Saturday and finals are scheduled for Sunday from 10.30am.

Add a Comment