Tennis

Defending champion withdraws from men's ASB Classic

Published Jan. 5, 2019 8:25 p.m. ET

AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — Defending champion Roberta Bautista Agut has joined fellow Doha finalist Tomas Berdych in withdrawing from the Auckland ATP Tour event which starts Monday.

Bautista Agut was to be the fifth seed at the Auckland tournament, the ASB Classic, but pulled out after reaching the Doha final in which he beat Berdych 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.

His appearance in the final meant there was insufficient time to travel to Auckland for his first-round match.

American Steve Johnson will take Bautista Agut's place in the main draw while New Zealander Rubin Statham replaces Berdych.

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