American ruled out with shoulder injury

ST PETERSBURG, FL (Friday, 12 September 2003) – World No.5 Jennifer Capriati has been forced to withdraw from next week’s $585,000 Polo Open Shanghai due to a shoulder injury.

The American, who reached the semifinals of the US Open last week, had been bothered by a pectoral strain since late July.

"I'm really disappointed not to be able to go to Shanghai,” said Capriati. “It would've been my first visit there, and I had heard lots of great things about the tournament.

“Unfortunately, after playing a lot of tennis in the past few weeks, my shoulder has gotten worse and I've been advised to rest so I can be healthy for the rest of the season. I wish the tournament all the best and maybe I can make it to Shanghai in 2004."

Capriati is next scheduled to play the $650,000 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Filderstadt, Germany, 6-12 October.

The top seed for the Polo Open Shanghai will now be world No.9 Elena Dementieva, who has been announced as a late entry into the tournament.