Petkovic misses Wimbledon with ankle injury

LONDON (AFP) –

Germany’s Andrea Petkovic, pictured in April, was forced out of Wimbledon after failing to recover from a serious right ankle injury.

Germany’s Andrea Petkovic was forced out of Wimbledon on Wednesday after failing to recover from a serious right ankle injury.

It will be the third Grand Slam in succession she has missed after also sitting out the Australian Open and French Open.

Petkovic missed all tournaments from the Australian Open to the clay court season due to a low back injury, and in her comeback tournament in Stuttgart she suffered a right ankle injury, which has caused her to miss every tournament since.

“Unfortunately I will not be able to return in time for Wimbledon this year. While this is another setback in my return, I will continue to work hard on getting back on court as soon as possible,” said Petkovic.

Petkovic finished 2011 at No.10 in the world, her biggest achievement being reaching her first three Grand Slam quarter-finals at the Australian, French and US Opens – the only player on the WTA to make it to the quarter-finals or better at three of the four Grand Slams.

She is currently ranked at 18 in the world.