Cibulkova pulls out of Stanford with abdominal strain

STANFORD, California | Sat Jul 30, 2011 6:38pm EDT

STANFORD, California (Reuters) - Slovakian Dominica Cibulkova was forced to withdraw from her semi-final against France's Marion Bartoli at the Stanford Classic on Saturday due to a left abdominal strain.

World number 20 Cibulkova said she had felt the injury sporadically during the week and it had become especially painful in her straight sets win over New Zealander Marina Erakovic in the quarter-finals.

Ninth-ranked Bartoli will face the winner of the match between 13-times grand slam champion Serena Williams and Wimbledon semi-finalist Sabine Lisicki.

(Editing by John Mehaffey)

golf baseball soccer sports news football news