• Australian Open

Petkovic ruled out of Australian Open

ESPN staff
December 30, 2012
Andrea Petkovic is treated for a knee injury © Getty Images
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Andrea Petkovic has been ruled out of the Australian Open after suffering a knee injury at the Hopman Cup.

Petkovic has dropped outside of the world's top 100 after ankle and back problems this year, and her hopes of starting the new season on a high were dashed when she suffered the injury in action against Ashleigh Barty on Saturday.

Currently ranked at No. 129, Petkovic would have had to qualify for the first major of the year, which begins in Melbourne on January 14, but could now be out of action for up to three months.

However, the German, who had the same knee reconstructed after tearing her anterior cruciate ligament at the 2008 Australian Open, says the injury is not as serious as first feared and could be back in action as early as February.

"It is a rupture of the medial meniscus," Petkovic. "If they have to trim it then I will only be out for a month. If they have to sew it up again, it will take two to three months. "Nonetheless, I am quite relieved it is not my ACL, I feared the worst. I hope I will be fine after a month."

Petkovic missed last year's Australian Open with a stress fracture in her back. She will be replaced in the German team by Tatjana Malek at the Hopman Cup.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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