Santiago organizers suffer blow as three players withdraw from event

World No. 36 Laslo Djere, seven-time ATP champion Fernando Verdasco and rising French star Corentin Moutet have all withdrawn from the inaugural ATP event in Santiago which takes place next week.

Djere, who claimed his maiden ATP title at the Rio Open last year, picked up a round-of-16 loss at the Argentina Open in Buenos Aires last week before he pulled out of Rio de Janeiro. 

The 24-year-old Serbian has now finished his Golden Swing campaign and his focus turns to getting back his health to 100 percent and being ready for the upcoming Masters events in Indian Wells and Miami.

Meanwhile, world No. 49 Verdasco and 77th-ranked Moutet appeared at this week's ATP 500 event in Rio de Janeiro but neither impressed at the tournament.

Spain's Verdasco was beaten by fellow compatriot Pablo Andujar in his opener at the event, while Moutet exited the tournament in the first round after losing Argentine Federico Coria in tight three sets. 

Italy's Salvatore Caruso, Argentine Leonardo Mayer and Andrej Martin of Slovakia will replace the three players who withdrew from Santiago.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2vKGKQP