Soweto Open loses major winner

Sweden's former Australian Open champion Thomas Johansson on Tuesday became the first major casualty for next week's Soweto Open when he withdrew from the event because of a lingering foot injury.

Johannson, whose ranking among the world's top ten players has plummeted to 162nd position after battling his present injury for over a year, was also a late withdrawal from the recent South African Open at Montecasino.

He vowed at the time to make amends and play in South Africa as soon as possible - claiming the Soweto Open, a Challenger event on the ATP circuit, would be an ideal occasion "because I had heard so much about the area and dearly loved to see it at first-hand.

"Unfortunately it will not now be possible," he informed South African Tennis Association CEO Ian Smith, "But I remain keen to play in South Africa again at the first opportunity."

Johannson played in last year's South African Open in East London, a Challenger event on the ATP circuit before the elevation of the event to a position on the ATP's main circuit this year.

He reached the semifinals before losing a thrilling encounter to Croatia's Ivan Ljubicic, the eventual winner of the tournament.

"It is unfortunate to lose a player of Johannson's stature," said Smith. "However, added Sata's CEO, "we have a host of other international competitors of the calibre of Fabrice Santoro, Gilles Muller, Austria's Stefan Koubek, Brazilian Thiago Alves and our own Davis Cup stalwart, Rik De Voest, to ensure a highly successful tournament."

Johannson's place in the draw will be taken by Australian Joseph Sirianni.