Another day, another injury scare at the Hopman Cup.
Spaniard Anabel Medina Garrigues gave tournament organisers a fright when she was troubled by knee soreness during her 6-1 6-0 flop against world No.6 Petra Kvitova on Sunday.
Medina Garrigues persevered through the pain and returned for the mixed doubles, but it was to no avail as the Czech Republic prevailed 3-0 in the tie.
The result left Spain’s hopes of defending their title in tatters, while Medina Garrigues may require pain-killing injections in order to make it through the rest of the tournament.
The mixed-teams event suffered a double blow before the tournament even started when Spaniard Tommy Robredo (arm) Poland’s world No.21 Jerzy Janowicz (foot) withdrew through injury.
Then on Saturday, Italian Andreas Seppi retired mid-match against Grzegorz Panfil due to illness.
Seppi is expected to recover in time to take on Australia’s Bernard Tomic on Tuesday.
Kvitova needed just 57 minutes to beat a sore Medina Garrigues, while Radek Stepanek beat world No.194 Daniel Munoz-De La Nava 6-2 6-2 to secure the tie for the Czech Republic.
“I’m so sore with my knees,” Medina Garrigues said after her singles match.
“I’ve had a problem with them for a long time.
“I didn’t feel so good because it was a long flight here, and the plane is not good for me. And then on one point I felt it a little bit.
“You feel that you cannot play your best tennis because you can’t run.
“I hope the next day I feel better.”
Stepanek was a class above Munoz-De La Nava, needing just 78 minutes to secure the win.
Kvitova has already won a Hopman Cup – back in 2012 – and tasted Fed Cup success in 2011 and 2012.
Stepanek, who led his country to Davis Cup glory last month, is eager to join Kvitova on the Hopman Cup honour board.
“There’s a bit more motivation for me to try to win the Hopman Cup with her,” Stepanek said.
“I’ve played pretty good in the last couple of years in a team competition so it would definitely be great to add this to my list.”
Stepanek and Kvitova, who are believed to be dating, won the mixed doubles 6-3 6-4 to secure the 3-0 tie whitewash.
“It was our first mix together. I enjoyed it,” Kvitova said.
“It was also my first match of the new season. It’s nice to start with a win.”