Henin pulls out of China Open

BEIJING, Sep 12 (Reuters) World number one Justine Henin has pulled out of next week's China Open because of a respiratory infection, organisers said today.

The 25-year-old Belgian won her second US Open title last weekend and had been number one seed for the 5,000 WTA tournament.

In a statement released by the organisers, Henin's agent Ken Meyerson said she had been enthusiastic about playing in the Chinese capital less than a year before the Beijing Olympics.

''She went to a doctor in Brussels about her recurring respiratory issues/asthma. The doctor told her to take three weeks off,'' Meyerson said, adding that Henin was also doubtful for the Stuttgart Grand Prix event starting on October 1 World number three Jelena Jankovic of Serbia has said she wants to play and will be given a wild card, organisers said.

Beijing's notorious pollution was in evidence on Wednesday and the tournament weather forecast described the air quality as ''unhealthy''.

REUTERS BJR BST1301