Zvonareva withdraws from French Open

PARIS – Sixth-seeded Vera Zvonareva has withdrawn from the French Open because of an ankle injury.

The Russian injured her ankle chasing a ball last month at the Family Circle Cup in Charleston, South Carolina. She pulled out of the season’s second Grand Slam tournament on Saturday, a day before play begins on the red clay at Roland Garros.

The sixth-ranked Zvonareva had been scheduled to face Olga Govortsova of Belarus in the first round, but lucky loser Katie O’Brien of Britain will take her spot in the women’s draw.

Zvonareva was chosen to represent Russia in the Fed Cup semifinal series against Italy last month, but she was dropped from the team because of the same injury. The Italians beat the defending champion Russians, 4-1.     (AP)