Recovering Lucie Safarova withdraws from Hopman Cup

New Delhi: World number nine Lucie Safarova has withdrawn from the Hopman Cup to give herself time to recover from bacterial infection.

The Czech tweeted on SUnday, "Unfortunately my health complications continue and I had to cancel Hopman Cup.;-(I will do my best to be back asap!"

Unfortunately my health complications continue and I had to cancel Hopman Cup.;-(I will do my best to be back asap! pic.twitter.com/W8PDeW7MDw — lucie safarova (@luciesafarova) December 19, 2015

In a breakthrough year, Safarova lost to Serena Williams at the French Open before catching the infection.

The 28-year-old will be replaced by Karolina Pliskova in the mixed-team event in Perth. The world number eleven will partner fellow Czech Jiri Vesely.

The Czechs have been placed in group ‘A’ together with the United States of America, Australia Gold, and Ukraine as the other teams.

The Hopman Cup is scheduled to be held between January 3-9 at the Perth Arena in Australia.