Pliskova withdraws from Doha with viral illness

DOHA, Qatar - No.2 seed Karolina Pliskova has pulled out of the Qatar Total Open due to a viral illness, the tournament has announced.

The Czech, who had a first-round bye this week, has been replaced in the singles draw by her twin sister, lucky loser Kristyna; the Pliskovas have been replaced in the doubles draw by alternates Ons Jabeur and Alison Riske.

"I had a temperature few days," explained the 26-year-old. "I don't have any neck pain or something, but I just feel overall super tired, and my muscles are just hurting from the morning without even doing anything. So I'm just not able to compete 100% today."

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The former World No.1 is coming off a gruelling Fed Cup first-round tie last weekend in which the Czech team narrowly lost 3-2 to Romania at home in Ostrava - where she said the symptoms had started. "Already the day after Fed Cup, I felt after I played my match with Simona [Halep], which was super long and tough, so I just felt somehow exhausting," she told the press. "From the first day [in Doha] I was not feeling great and not ready. I have never felt actually this way. It's normal that you are tired, of course, when you are traveling and playing a lot of matches. But I just feel somehow my body is not ready."

The 2017 champion is the fifth withdrawal from the tournament since the main draw was made, and follows names such as No.6 seed Caroline Wozniacki - also suffering a viral illness - and Caroline Garcia, afflicted by a left leg injury.