Tennis: Former Winner out of US Open
Svetlana Kuznetsova is the latest big name to withdraw from the US Open through injury, with the former champion joining a list of absentees.
The 2004 winner at Flushing Meadows has been struggling with a knee injury; her absence was confirmed seven days before the start of the tournament.
Kuznetsova has only played one tournament since reaching the last 16 at the French Open, and that saw her crash out of Wimbledon in the first round.
The world number 48 has joined two other top 50 players on the sidelines, with Estonia's Kaia Kanepi and Flavio Panetta of Italy also ruled out.
British number four, Elena Baltacha, is another who will not be in the main draw in New York, after revealing that she needs ankle surgery.
Greta Arn, Johanna Larsson, Garbine Muguruza, and Sesil Karatantcheva are the four players who gain from the withdrawals.
It is not just the women's draw though that has been hit by withdrawals, with several big-name men's singles stars also absent for the final Grand Slam of the year.
Rafael Nadal is the highest ranked player to pull out of the US Open, as the left-hander continues his recovery from a knee injury.
2003 winner Juan Carlos Ferrero has joined his fellow countryman on the sidelines, with world number 41, Gael Monfils, and Juan Ignacio Chela of Argentina.
If there are any more withdrawals, there are likely to be repeat calls for a reduced calendar, with many of the top players feeling there is too much tennis being played.
The 26-year-old Nadal, who took a month off to rest after the Australian Open earlier in the year, says he is continuing his "recuperation and preparation" and says he is "still not ready to play".
Novak Djokovic remains the favourite to claim the US Open in the odds betting tables. Fans thinking of gambling online should consider looking at Juan Martin del Potro and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, both of whom could sneak up on the ‘big three’.
