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Haas Replaces Safin in Sampras Exhibition

February 13, 2008

Another player has withdrawn from the SAP Open. Marat Safin’s representative told tournament director Bill Rapp on Tuesday that he won’t participate in next week’s event in San Jose, meaning Pete Sampras needs another opponent for Monday’s exhibition.

It’ll be Germany’s Tommy Haas, who also will be playing in the tournament’s singles field.

Safin pulled out because of a stress fracture in his right leg, which forced him from Russia’s Davis Cup competition against Serbia over the weekend. He also has stomach flu.

“Initially, (the injury) was a toe, but the real issue is a stress fracture,” Rapp said. “Allon (Khakshouri, Safin’s agent) said he was really depressed he couldn’t play in the Davis Cup, but he really wanted to play Pete Sampras. When Safin says something, you know he means it, because he doesn’t say much.”

On Monday, Fernando Gonzalez and Juan Martin Del Potro withdrew from the San Jose tourney because of injuries. They were replaced by Robert Kendrick of Fresno and 6-foot-9 John Isner.

Rapp called the multiple withdrawals “uncommon” for this time of year.

The tourney has commitments from nine of the top-10 ranked Americans, including No. 6 Andy Roddick and No. 12 James Blake.

Source: San Francisco Chronicle

Filed under: Archives 2003 to 2011

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