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ROME (AP) -Top-ranked Justine Henin has withdrawn from next week's Italian Open citing fatigue.
She will be fined US$20,000 (?13,000) for a late withdrawal, the WTA Tour said on Friday.
On Thursday, Henin lost to Dinara Safina 5-7, 6-3, 6-1 in the third round of the German Open. That loss followed a 6-2, 6-0 drubbing by Serena Williams at the Sony Ericsson Open last month, the worst for a No. 1 player in nine years. Maria Sharapova also beat her in straight sets at the Australian Open.
Henin returned in Berlin from a month off with a knee injury hoping to restore her confidence in time to win a fifth French Open title in June.
Gisela Dulko of Argentina will replace Henin in the Rome draw when the tournament gets under way Monday.
