STUTTGART: Russia's Anna Chakvetadze was forced to retire from her third straight WTA tournament this morning when she collapsed during her first round match in Stuttgart's Porsche Grand Prix due to a mystery illness.

The 24-year-old qualifier, ranked 50th in the world, was in the third set of her match against Slovakia's Zuzana Kucova when she dropped to the clay-court floor during a break in the third set of her first round match.

She needed medical attention before retiring from the match with the score at 1-6, 7-5, 4-4 to Kucova.

The 24-year-old also had to retire for a similar reason in February's tournament in Dubai and again at Indian Wells last month as doctors struggle to identify the problem.

"I started the match feeling fine, but I knew the dizziness was coming and started to feel worse in the second set," said the Russian.

"It was the same feeling as the two times before.

"I have seen a doctor and I don't really have anything more to update with at the moment."

The Russian said she had sought medical advice on whether to play in Stuttgart and her future plans remain unclear as she looks for the cause of the problem.

"I saw a doctor before the tournament and they told me everything would be ok, which is why I decided to play here," she said.

"But now it's the third tournament in a row I have had to retire with this dizziness problem.

"It seems the doctors don't have all the answers yet, so I have to rest.

"Hopefully we will find a solution."

Kucova now goes through to play the top-ranked Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark, who had a bye into the second round.

Stosur, the fifth seed, needed just 80 minutes to see off Spaniard Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez for a 7-5, 6-1 win as the Australian booked her place in tomorrow's second round.

Brisbane-born Stosur, 27, had few problems against Martinez Sanchez, who held her own in the first set and battled back from an early break.

Stosur secured a second break in the 12th game to take the opening set before she cruised into a 5-0 lead in the second when Martinez Sanchez stopped the rot when serving to save the match.

The Spaniard avoided the embarrassment of a whitewash, but Stosur kept her composure and served out to set up a second round clash with Slovakia's Daniela Hantuchova, who enjoyed a 7-5, 6-3 win over Romania's Alexandra Dulgheru.

RESULTS

This morning
Samantha Stosur (AUS) bt Maria-Jose Martinez Sanchez (ESP) 7-5, 6-1; Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) bt Alexandra Dulgheru (ROU) 7-5, 6-3; Julia Goerges (GER) bt Michaella Krajicek (NED) 6-3, 6-1; Zuzana Kucova (SVK) bt Anna Chakvetadze (RUS) 1-6, 7-5, 4-4 retired; Sabine Lisicki (GER) bt Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) 7-5, 7-6 (7-2); Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) bt Roberta Vinci (ITA) 6-3, 6-4; Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) bt Jamie Hampton (USA) 6-0, 6-1; Andrea Petkovic (GER) bt Tamira Paszek (AUT) 3-6, 6-2, 6-2; Jelena Jankovic (SRB) bt Beatriz Garcia Vidagany (ESP) 6-1, 6-2

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KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia hope that hosting the Federation of International Polo (FIP) Polo World Cup 2011 Zone D Qualifiers would be an advantage as they aim to qualify for the World Cup for the first time.

However, it will not come easy as Australia, South Africa and New Zealand are fancied to fill up the three qualifying spots.

"Do not rule out our chances. We are as good as any other team," Malaysia captain Shaik Reismann said.

"We are well prepared to face the tough challenge in this tournament.

"The team have come a long since it was assembled last year," he added.

Shaik was met at the tournament draw at the Palace of Golden Horses. Also present at the draw was Royal Malaysian Polo Association president Tengku Abdullah Ahmad Shah.

"As host, there are several factors in our favour," said Tengku Abdullah.

The qualifiers will be played at Royal Pahang Polo Club, Putrajaya Equestrian Park and Royal Selangor Polo Club from June 11-26.

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