Tennis Canada – Toronto, August 2, 2019 – Tennis Canada announced on Friday that Petra Kvitova has withdrawn from Rogers Cup presented by National Bank in Toronto due to injury.

The two-time Wimbledon champion was hoping to repeat the glory of her 2012 Rogers Cup title win but requires more time to recover from an arm issue that initially flared up during the French Open earlier this year.

“I’m so disappointed to have to withdraw from the Rogers Cup,” Kvitova commented. “My forearm injury is continuing to cause some problems so, on the advice of my medical team, I have made the decision not to travel to Canada. I will really miss being in Toronto this year and wish Karl and the tournament every success.”

Following Kvitova’s withdrawal, Serena Williams is now a Top-8 seed and it has been confirmed she will play her opening match during Wednesday’s night session. A three-time Rogers Cup champion, Williams won the tournament in 2001, 2011 and 2013.

For her part, Venus Williams will take the available spot in the main draw and her now-vacant WTA Wild Card will be handed to two-time Grand Slam champion Svetlana Kuznetsova.

This summer, Toronto will host the very best women’s tennis during the Premier 5 event. In addition to the on-court action, the tournament will feature a variety of activities for all, including the 407 ETR Free Community Weekend, which will take place from August 3 to 4.

Tickets are on sale online at www.rogerscup.com or by calling 1 877 283-6647.

About Rogers Cup presented by National Bank
Rogers Cup presented by National Bank is a Tennis Canada owned and operated world-class tournament celebrating its 139th anniversary of the men’s event from August 2-11, 2019 at IGA Stadium in Montreal and its 127th anniversary of the women’s event from August 3-11, 2019 at Aviva Centre in Toronto. As a WTA Premier 5 tournament, ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament, and US Open Series event, Rogers Cup presented by National Bank will showcase the world’s best players. Rogers Cup presented by National Bank is the third-oldest title in tennis, behind only Wimbledon and the US Open. For more information and tickets visit www.rogerscup.com.

About Tennis Canada
Founded in 1890, Tennis Canada is a non-profit, national sport association with a mission to lead the growth of tennis in Canada and a vision to become a world-leading tennis nation. We value teamwork, passion, integrity, innovation and excellence. Tennis Canada owns and operates the premier Rogers Cup presented by National Bank WTA and ATP World Tour events, 9 professional ITF sanctioned events and financially supports 13 other professional tournaments in Canada. Tennis Canada operates junior national training centres/programs in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. Tennis Canada is a proud member of the International Tennis Federation, the Canadian Olympic Committee, the Canadian Paralympic Committee and the International Wheelchair Tennis Association, and serves to administer, sponsor and select the teams for Davis Cup, Fed Cup, the Olympic and Paralympic Games and all wheelchair, junior and senior national teams. Tennis Canada invests its surplus into tennis development. For more information on Tennis Canada please visit our Web site at: www.tenniscanada.com and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Media Contacts:
 
Valerie Tetreault, Director, Communications
        vtetreault@tenniscanada.com or 514-273-1515 ext. 6259
        
Victoria Jaklin, Coordinator, Communications and Media Relations
        vjaklin@tenniscanada.com or 514-273-1515 ext. 6291
 
Oliver Wheeler, Coordinator, Communications
        owheeler@tenniscanada.com or 416-665-9777 ext. 4545