Injury Forces Graf To Miss Top Tourneys

Former world No. 1 women’s tennis player Steffi Graf underwent surgery on her left knee and will be out as long as six months, forcing her to miss Wimbledon and the U.S. Open.

The German, who slipped to No. 3 in the Corel WTA world rankings after her quarterfinal defeat at the French Open last week, had surgery because her kneecap was irritating a tendon.

The 27-year-old had an MRI Friday, which revealed a break of the cartilage as well as a shortening and partial rupture of the patella tendon on her left knee.

Graf said the injury occurred at last year’s Wimbledon, at which she won the singles title.